Blue Hill, Brooksville, Deer Isle and Penobscot are moving forward with a plan to obtain better and more reliable Internet access for their communities that will support all of our towns - long into the future. To accomplish that, a Request for Proposal (RFP) was released on July 9th. Find more specific information on the What’s Happening page of this site and on the RFP Page.
Blue Hill Community Broadband Conversations
Meetings will consist of a short presentation followed by Questions & Answers.
with Scott Miller (Blue Hill Select Board) and Butler Smythe
We want to hear from YOU!
see: Blue Hill Communications
The PUB meets the 2nd Friday of each month at 8 am - via WEBEX
Your PUB "rep" is noted on the contacts page.
Your PUB "rep" is noted on the contacts page.
What’s Happening (Click for more Info.)
Broadband Speed Test Initiative (Click for Info.)
Just in!
BIG NEWS: Governor Janet Mills signs LD 1484 creating the new Maine Connectivity Authority
And with the stroke of a pen - the landscape shifts. Gov. Janet Mills today signed into law LD 1484 which creates a new public agency - The Maine Connectivity Authority which will invest $150 million to support broadband expansion state-wide.
The new Maine Connectivity Authority has the power to borrow money, own infrastructure, negotiate contracts and provide grants to companies and communities.
And with the stroke of a pen - the landscape shifts. Gov. Janet Mills today signed into law LD 1484 which creates a new public agency - The Maine Connectivity Authority which will invest $150 million to support broadband expansion state-wide.
The new Maine Connectivity Authority has the power to borrow money, own infrastructure, negotiate contracts and provide grants to companies and communities.
What's Next for the definition of Broadband? - Senators push for 100Mbps/100Mbps. Broadband is a capacity/speed standard set by the FCC - currently 25Mbps Download/3Mbps Upload. In Maine, it’s now 100Mbps/100Mbps!
The ConnectMaine Authority approved the designation of broadband service as at least 100/100Mbps, and the use of 50/10Mbps for the designation of unserved areas for Grant purposes.
The ConnectMaine Authority approved the designation of broadband service as at least 100/100Mbps, and the use of 50/10Mbps for the designation of unserved areas for Grant purposes.
O U R M I S S O N
Peninsula Broadband for All - Mission Statement
The Peninsula Utility for Broadband (PUB) advocates for fast, flexible, affordable and reliable internet to incentivize business, support schools, advance the quality of healthcare, connect homes and facilitate long term education and socialization of our rural communities.
WHO ARE WE?
The Peninsula Utility for Broadband (PUB) is a coalition of town working groups - formed in the Summer of 2018 - that seek to enhance the quality of life and develop opportunities in education, health care and job creation through significantly improved Internet - built to address today and more specifically - the future. We originally represented Penobscot, Blue Hill, Brooklin, Stonington, Deer Isle, Sedgwick, and Brooksville.
PUB will meet to share information and discuss opportunities for Peninsula-wide and Island communities, with collaboration to more effectively work common issues and coordinate meeting attendance, consolidate resource documentation, share planning development and insights, as well as lessons learned from the group and others.
PUB will focus on synergizing the efforts of the communities represented as well as the efforts of other state and national groups working toward the same or similar goals.
Each committee/working group and their associated town will educate and advocate Broadband/Internet service, which is affordable and available to all. Each town will ultimately be responsible for their own end state, but the potential creation of a common paper "Utility" will be available through the PUB.
PUB will meet to share information and discuss opportunities for Peninsula-wide and Island communities, with collaboration to more effectively work common issues and coordinate meeting attendance, consolidate resource documentation, share planning development and insights, as well as lessons learned from the group and others.
PUB will focus on synergizing the efforts of the communities represented as well as the efforts of other state and national groups working toward the same or similar goals.
Each committee/working group and their associated town will educate and advocate Broadband/Internet service, which is affordable and available to all. Each town will ultimately be responsible for their own end state, but the potential creation of a common paper "Utility" will be available through the PUB.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Contacting us will help us to grow and better serve you.
We are interested in what you think and what you need AND if you are willing to be Participants, Volunteers, or are just the curious or anxious.
Please let us know by going to this LINK and fill out a contact information form to better serve you. Or you can contact your local PUB rep - click here.
We are interested in what you think and what you need AND if you are willing to be Participants, Volunteers, or are just the curious or anxious.
Please let us know by going to this LINK and fill out a contact information form to better serve you. Or you can contact your local PUB rep - click here.
W H Y
For the People and Towns
FROM the 2020 State of Maine Broadband Action Plan (NEW 2020 Document Below!)
“We will redefine unserved potential subscribers as those locations where the available service is less than 25Mbps/3Mbps ..., and underserved potential subscribers as those locations where the available service is less than 99Mbps/10Mbps and greater than 25Mbps/3Mbps, .... Redefining these definitions will more closely align the Maine standards to the federal standards used by the FCC and other federal agencies and their funding programs. The current FCC standard considers service at 25Mbps/3Mbps as served.”
“We will redefine unserved potential subscribers as those locations where the available service is less than 25Mbps/3Mbps ..., and underserved potential subscribers as those locations where the available service is less than 99Mbps/10Mbps and greater than 25Mbps/3Mbps, .... Redefining these definitions will more closely align the Maine standards to the federal standards used by the FCC and other federal agencies and their funding programs. The current FCC standard considers service at 25Mbps/3Mbps as served.”
| State of Maine - Statewide Broadband Action Plan 2020 |
