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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 11 FA C T BO O K / D O I N G B U S I N E S S I N M A I N E Q UA L I T Y O F L I F E Johnson says the problem isn't the technology. "It's a value-for-dollar equation," she says. Berry says the proposed bond issue would strengthen eff orts by ConnectME, which has awarded 145 infrastructure grants totaling $11.8 million and nine planning grants totaling $372,000 since it began in 2006, and is in the fi nal stage of a multi-year plan to increase rural development. Part of the solution are federal and state subsidies that encourage companies to hook up low-population areas. But none is a total solution. Johnson says it's also an education issue, making sure that people understand the possibilities that internet access brings. Many of the state's rural users who have broadband are well below the speed levels recommended by the state and Federal Communications Commission. Carlton, the Franklin County volunteer, is a forester who must upload maps and has 1.5 Mbps upload with his DSL service, making that impossible. Large businesses are also aff ected. Wayfair, which employees 700 at call centers in Bangor and Brunswick, has piloted a work-from-home program, but there are "areas in rural Maine that would be fertile for attract- ing talent, but lack the broadband connectivity required to do the job," says Mike O'Hanlon, vice president of government and industry relations. Grassroots, creative solutions As with Franklin County, many communities across the state aren't waiting for the Legislature to take action. In Sanford, an "important initiative" to off set the York County city's distance from Interstate 95 exits is the construction of SanfordNet Fiber this summer – Maine's largest and fastest municipally owned fi ber optic network, says Jim Nimon, executive director of the Sanford Economic Growth Council. e 45 miles of fi ber will provide 10Gb speeds will connect the "last mile" premises in the area, and as a "gig city," Sanford will provide additional opportunities for workers who want to telecom- mute, as well as e-commerce. Half a state north, In Millinocket, Designlab invested more than $2,000 in connecting its Penobscot Avenue building to the 3-ring binder, which Haff ord told the legislative committee "was only a telephone pole away." e fi rm now has speeds of 50 mbit/50 mbit. e bigger picture in the Katahdin region is that a ConnectME action grant and partnership with Axiom Technologies created a broadband plan for Millinocket, East Millinocket and Medway. Last fall, a grant from the Northern Borders Regional Commission was awarded, which will help in the eff ort to build out fi ber to businesses. But the eff ort is far from over, according to the Our Katahdin website — the towns are still looking for funding and solutions to connected business as well as regional camps and homes. Michael Faloon, of Our Katahdin, which is the region's volunteer economic development group, testifi ed at the state hearing that "access to aff ordable capital will be our greatest challenge in bringing the highest speeds to the Katahdin region, hampering our ability to attract new busi- nesses and residents." Farther west, in Franklin County, similar grass- roots eff orts, creative fi nancing and individual solu- tions related to a town's needs are key. Woodworth says there won't be one big answer in Franklin County, but "the solution will be a col- lection of providers." But he said while providers are interested and some of the framework is already in place, making the money work is still key. He says Franklin County is still exploring solu- tions to that issue. M M , M a i n e b i z s t a f f w r i t e r , c a n b e r e a c h e d a t @ . Where the Legal World Meets the Real World C O U N S E L O R S A T L A W (207) 947-4501 www.rudmanwinc hell.com Intellectual Property Employment Entity formation Contracts Financing Incorporation Patents Real Estate Business Disputes Venture Capital Our commitment to your success begins the moment we become a part of your team. E X P E RT I S E If we're going to have a future, If we're going to have a future, If we're going to have a future, If we're going to have a future, If we're going to have a future, If we're going to have a future, If we're going to have a future, If we're going to have a future, If we're going to have a future, If we're going to have a future, If we're going to have a future, If we're going to have a future, If we're going to have a future, If we're going to have a future, we need to grow, we have to we need to grow, we have to we need to grow, we have to we need to grow, we have to we need to grow, we have to we need to grow, we have to we need to grow, we have to we need to grow, we have to we need to grow, we have to we need to grow, we have to we need to grow, we have to we need to grow, we have to we need to grow, we have to attract young families, people have to be able to work. Yes it affects education, health care, but it all distills down to economic development. It's critical for rural Maine. — Charlie Woodworth Greater Franklin Development Council

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