Maine

Today's big news is that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approved 18 Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program Final Proposals. As a reminder, we've been tracking what those proposals looked like when they were submitted to the NTIA. In the coming days, we'll be examining the final final (Is that what we should call them?) BEAD plans to see what changes were made during the approval process.

After three years of planning, analysis and collaboration with the federal government, Maine Connectivity Authority  is proud to announce that Maine’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Final Proposal has been approved by the National Telecomm

Brian Allenby, chief operating officer for Maine Connectivity Authority, is optimistic about the state’s revised award recommendations in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program.  “We’re hoping it will be the final awards list,” he said. The list is almost the same as what the state sent to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for approval prior to the September 4 deadline. The main difference is that NTIA did not allow the state to award funding for certain locations.

The Oregon Broadband Office released the state's draft Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program Final Proposal on September 12. Public comments will be accepted through September 19, 2025. Written comments may be submitted by email to BEAD.broadband@biz.oregon.gov. The plan includes $621 million in funding to 19 awardees to cover over 100,000 locations.

State broadband officials reported dramatic cost reductions and diverse technology deployments as most states faced a deadline of Thursday, September 4, to submit final proposals for the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program. Maine achieved the most striking cost efficiency, with Andrew Butcher, president of the Maine Connectivity Authority, saying that his state would spend just $48 million to serve remaining unconnected locations—down from an original $272 million allocation. Maine's technology mix includes 85 percent fiber deployments, 14 percent low Earth orbit satell

The Maine Connectivity Authority released the draft Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program Final Proposal on August 22. The public comment period ran through August 29, 2025. The plan includes $48 million in funding to six internet service providers to cover over 23,000 locations. If approved, 85 percent of locations will be served by fiber, 14 percent will be served by low-Earth orbit satellite, and 1 percent of locations will be served by other technology. 

Following a June 6 announcement from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) that restructured the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, all states and territories have been tasked with reevaluating their plans to connect un- and underserved locations to high-speed internet.

Broadband is no longer a luxury—it’s essential for economic opportunity, education, and community resilience. The Maine Connectivity Authority is meeting this need by investing in infrastructure through a deeply local, collaborative approach. In June 2025, MCA President Andrew Butcher's 900-mile journey across Maine in a 1984 Westfalia VW van affectionately named “Buttercup” offered more than scenic views—it offered a deep dive into the human side of digital connectivity.