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V O L . X X I V N O. X X I V O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 1 8 22 O n a recent ursday, Mark Ouellette, the CEO of Axiom Technologies, began the day in Millinocket, with a later meeting in Wiscasset, a quick trip up to Waterville, then another meeting in Scarborough. Axiom, by the way, is headquartered Downeast, in Machias. Earlier that week, Axiom announced that Ouellette, who had been president of Axiom since 2015, was named CEO, replacing Susan Corbett, who now directs Axiom's nonprofit National Digital Equality Center. Ouellette says the goal is still the same as it was when Corbett joined the company in 2005. "Our whole philosophy and busi- ness is based on [Corbett's] vision to hook up every house in Maine [with broadband]," Ouellette says early one morning as he prepares for another day of cross-state meetings. e company has two distinct func- tions — it's a for-profit broadband company and one of the main providers for Washington County, but it's also a nonprofit on the forefront of the state's digital literacy movement. Axiom's projects range in scope from a partnership with Microsoft Corp. to gain rural access through use of TV "white space," to partnering with com- munities developing broadband plans, including a recent memorandum of understanding with the Passamaquoddy tribe in Indian Township. It's all part of the same thing, Ouellette says. "Anything that provides access is something we will consider and we will do," Ouellette says. 'What do you do with it?' When Corbett first joined Axiom, it was out of frustration at the lack of affordable and effective wifi access Downeast. e area is tough to get to, sparsely populated and not a money- maker for large providers. e company grew quickly, and has now installed 100 access points serving 2,500 square miles. In 2006, Axiom hired a director of educational services to head its digital literacy program, the only one in the state. In 2014, that position evolved into the nonprofit Axiom Training & Education Center. e literacy part is a necessary component. "What do you do with that connec- tion when you get it? People have to know how to use it," Ouellette says. He says a frequent perception of inadequate connectivity is, "Yeah, my Netflix is slow." "Not to minimize the impor- tance of entertainment, but there's a whole other level of need around connectivity coming faster, faster, faster," he says. He says it's vital for not only the economies of the state's rural and remote areas, but individuals for whom the hospital can be 45 minutes, or two hours, away, or there's no educational institu- tion nearby. Telemedicine and online education are vital for those who can't physically get to the sites. Meeting challenges Ouellette was in economic and com- munity development before joining Axiom in 2015. Since then, he and Corbett have pushed the company to be at the fore- front of digital inclusion for Mainers. e spread of Axiom's scope is part of a growing wave in the state to increase digital access, much of it supported by the ConnectME authority, which pro- vides grants for broadband planning and installation, among other programs. Axiom has made good use of state, federal and private grants for a variety of programs. e company, which has 12 employ- ees, also has a nose for areas where con- nectivity is a challenge. e town of Cranberry Isles, five islands with a year-round popula- tion of 120, for instance, budgeted $1.2 million for a broadband buildout with Axiom at its March town meeting. "at pretty much doubled their town budget," Ouellette says. e islands have geographic and logistical issues that make connecting it tough. But they were willing to pay, Ouellette says, "to keep families on the islands, keep people there, working." e day after the approval vote, the town learned it had been awarded a USDA grant for $1.3 million. Axiom is also working with the Hancock County town of Stonington on its broadband plan. e town of about 1,000 has lost about half its population since 1950. Ouellette says hopes are that broad- band will "stop the outflow of talent" and attract new residents. "It's really about people," Ouellette says. Thousands connecting Axiom has also partnered with communi- ties that are aggressively looking outside the box to find economic sustainability. Axiom was part of a collabora- tion with the Central Maine Growth M I D C O A S T & D OW N E A S T M A I N E P H O T O S / C O U R T E S Y A X I O M Seeking digital equality Small Machias broadband company cutting a large swath through Maine's rural areas B y M a u r e e n M i L L i k e n F O C U S C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2 4 » Axiom Technologies promoted Mark Ouellette to CEO. Former CEO Susan Corbett now leads the nonprofit National Digital Equality Center. Anything that provides access is something we will consider and we will do. — Mark Ouellette Axiom Technologies

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