Maine has had some notable investments in advanced telecommunications. Road Runner has installed high-speed cable modem service in the Presque Isle area and has a dedicated backbone facility between Portland and Presque Isle. Nonetheless, the pace of broadband deployment in rural Maine must be accelerated for electronic commerce to meet its full potential. In an Information Age economy broadband access is becoming as important to businesses as water is to farming or electricity is to manufacturing. Access to broadband carries enormous economic implications.
Rural communities deserve the same speed and quality of Internet service.
Only by bridging the digital divide will we ensure that the opportunities provided by modern technology are available to all.