ONLINE SERVICESBE ON GUARD:Please report any suspicious activity to the State Police or County Sheriff's office at (207) 624-7076 BROADBAND NEWS
The Maine Broadband Coalition has launched a statewide internet speed test mapping initiative. The goal of the “Get Up To Speed” initiative is to gather data from across the state to generate the most comprehensive map of both the presence and quality of internet in Maine to date. Residents are being asked to help the initiative by taking this less-than-a-minute test to map their own speed through the Maine Broadband Coalition’s website. We strongly encourage you to share this link with your community, so that we can get the most accurate map possible. The Maine Broadband Coalition will aggregate, document, and visualize the speed testing information to provide users and state officials with up-to-date service maps. Participants can view their results (while personal information remains confidential) and watch the public map of Maine grow in real time. A crucial next step The new speed testing initiative is the crucial next step in ensuring the delivery of broadband throughout the state and will help local, regional, and state leaders develop projects and steer investments to the places that need it most. This map, along with other data collected, will help inform where the bond funding, approved by Maine voters in July, can have the most impact. Click here to read the Maine Broadband Coalition Press Release. |
Broadband Perspective from ConnectMaine
Please read the following e-mail sent to Town Manager Mark Robinson regarding the necessary steps for Fayette to take in regards to achieving broadband access in town. Mark; Congratulations on the progress you have made as a community. Often we find communities get stuck at this point in time and spend a lot of time spinning their wheels on “what ifs”. Those “what ifs” will not go away until your community decides three basic things. These, I realize are not small things, but they are the decision points that outline your next steps. Do you want universal service? This is service that reaches everyone Do you want a FTTH project that is going to essentially lay down the infrastructure your community will use for the next 30-50 years? Do you want own the infrastructure – or do you want to have an ISP own the infrastructure. As I said not small questions. I have a point of view on this, but the committee should too. These are probably the questions you have been dancing around for many many months. I would urge to answer them. Take a vote. Whatever. Answer them. I know many communities get hung up on “but how will we pay for it”. That question cannot be answered until you figure out what you want. These choices focus your options on a specific direction that you can then answer the pay for it question. Also worth noting is that we have all operated in an scarcity mindset on broadband infrastructure, which has limited our decision making and options. With the very real potential of over $300M in federal money alone coming to Maine over the next threeish years, it is time to shift that mindset to one of abundance. That abundance mind set should be what infrastructure does your community want and need to not have to go back and rebuild this for the next 40 years, and meet the unknown demand (except it will be higher and higher) for speed and latency in that time frame. Do you want dirt roads or do you want a well built asphalt, with all the proper underlayment and drainage, that, other than repaving every 10 years, will serve the community for 40 years. That is the question. And who do you want to own that road. And this infrastructure is A LOT cheaper than building (or even repaving) a road. A LOT. And the time is now. Once you have made these decisions, your path forward is pretty straight forward. And timely. Money is flowing. Getting ready means answering these fundamental questions and moving forward. Stop getting hung up on how to pay for “it”. Define “it”, and then figure out how to pay for it. There are lots and lots of options from long term borrowing to taxes (!) to grants or combinations of all three. But you have to decide what you want to be. Hope this is helpful. Peggy Schaffer Director, ConnectMaine Authority Department of Economic and Community Development peggy.schaffer@maine.gov | 207.441-8419 | www.maine.gov/connectme/about/staff The Fayette Town Office
2589 Main St. Fayette, ME 04349 207-685-4373 Monday 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. |
ANNOUNCEMENTSBROADBAND NEWS
The town of Fayette is hosting prospective broadband providers at the bi-weekly Selectboard Meetings. Please feel free to review this website, which offers a detailed explanation between the differences of fiber to the home, DSL connections, and Cable TV. Tomorrow, July 27, 2021, Matrix will be there to present their fiber to the home proposal. Please review their proposal in written form here. Neighbors Driving Neighbors is holding their Annual Auction
Happening now until August 1st! Click here to access the auction and support NDN! Neighbors Driving Neighbors
is looking for volunteer drivers! If you are interested in this rewarding experience, they are having a volunteer orientation in Mt. Vernon on July 12th. Contact NDN to hear more about it and receive an application! 207-860-0677 neighborsdrivingneighbors@gmail.com To learn more, click here. The Town Office will now only be offering a limited amount of hard copy IFW Hunting Law Books. To access the digital copy, please click here.
The Town of Fayette has committed to help support Team Hailey Hugs and all families whose children are affected by cancer. To learn more and join, click here. Search our website here!
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