Federal Funds Not Enough to Bring Broadband-for-All to Maine
CIO Fred Brittain discusses why despite an influx of funds from the federal government, Maine’s topography and demographics make getting high-speed Internet to everyone easier said than done.
The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the digital divide, forcing the U.S. to reckon with what it means when one person has high-speed home Internet with which they can work and learn during a crisis and another does not. But the good news is that federal funding directed toward broadband efforts has IT leaders feeling hopeful.
And while it is exciting, Maine Chief Information Officer Fred Brittain said at the annual National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) conference last month, it’s also not enough. Funding from the bipartisan infrastructure bill and other relief efforts will get Maine a long way toward getting everyone connected, as will increased executive attention on the issue, but the state’s many rural areas and mountainous terrain make expanding the physical aspects of broadband a challenge.
One area where Brittain is confident is in the state’s efforts toward digital equity, particularly for Maine’s older and low-income populations. Learning to use the tech and being able to pay for it is essential.
“It’s not just about making sure you have a live connection in your house,” he said. “Can you afford it?”
Lauren Kinkade is the managing editor for Government Technology magazine. She has a degree in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and more than 15 years’ experience in book and magazine publishing.
Noelle Knell is the executive editor for e.Republic, responsible for setting the overall direction for e.Republic’s editorial platforms, including <i>Government Technology</i>, <i>Governing</i>, <i>Industry Insider, Emergency Management</i> and the Center for Digital Education. She has been with e.Republic since 2011, and has decades of writing, editing and leadership experience. A California native, Noelle has worked in both state and local government, and is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, with majors in political science and American history.
