October 2018

Rural Maine communities taking lack of broadband into their own hands

Many rural communities in Maine have been waiting decades for the major internet service providers to bring broadband service to their areas, a situation exacerbated by the state having the second slowest internet speeds in the country. The lack of broadband is a deterrent to would-be residents and businesses, and it thwarts local efforts at economic development. It also deprives existing residents of opportunities for entertainment, education, employment, and digital health services.

In farm country, forget broadband. You might not have internet at all

For many people in the rural US -- from stretches of Kansas to vast swaths of Alaska -- it's like living in an undeveloped nation when it comes to internet connectivity. Population density matters because it determines whether an internet company will invest in building out its network or if it will stick to its traditional borders. The problem runs deeper than the willingness of ISPs to move into new areas.