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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 24 M I D C O A S T & D OW N E A S T M A I N E F O C U S Council, Colby College and FirstLight Fiber to install a free wifi hotspot in downtown Waterville, a next step in the city's economic reshaping. Brian Clark, Colby College vice president of planning, said in May the hotspot will not only bring new investors to the city, but was crucial for residents, visitors and businesses. Axiom is also part of the Millinocket region's move to re-establish itself as a four-season eco-tourism destination and lure new residents after the economic slide that began 10 years ago when the Great Northern Paper mill closed. Axiom helped create free down- town wifi, and is also working with Millinocket, East Millinocket and Medway to form a broadband utility. As the economy of the region recovers, broadband is as much part of the essential infrastructure as road and bridges, says Jessica Masse, a member of the Katahdin Region Broadband Committee. "e Katahdin region is remote, but with high speed internet we have the world at our doorstep," she says. "My business, Designlab, is part of the digital economy and all we need to operate here is a fast internet connection. It makes our business possible in one of the most rural regions of Maine." Ouellette says that while free down- town wifi may not seem like much, it's making a difference. Millinocket and Waterville are "very different communities," he says. eir solutions to boost their economies are also different. But they both know that broadband access is a big part of it. "It's something they need to do." "In Millinocket, there are thou- sands connecting in the summer," he says.e Waterville hotspot, since it fired up in May, has also shown thou- sands of connections a month. Beaming through the trees Axiom's latest project, which will help connect people in the state's most challenging areas, is use of TV white space technology through Microsoft Corp.'s Airband Initiative. e partnership began two years ago, when Axiom won one of 12 worldwide Microsoft grants, the only North American winner. e technology uses airspace abandoned by the TV industry when it ditched analog for digital in 2009. e vacant bands of spectrum carry broadband signals over long distances and through rough rural terrain. "Maine's more rural areas present unique challenges for more traditional methods of delivering broadband due to the topography and other fac- tors," a Microsoft spokesperson tells Mainebiz. "It is also one of the most effective technologies addressing the rural broadband gap, this is why it is such a great option for Maine." Axiom used the initial $72,800 to connect residents in Washington County, partnering with Adaptrum, a California company that has devel- oped the technology. Microsoft is expanding the program, partnering with local internet service providers, and Axiom hopes to bring the technology to more areas of the state. "I'm pretty excited," Ouellette says. Axiom is an ideal partner for the pro- gram, according to Microsoft. "ey are part of the community and are focused on delivering broadband services to rural communities in Maine." Representatives from Microsoft are coming to Maine to help plan the next step, initially targeting an area outside Millinocket. The benefit of Maine's difficult places Ouellette stresses that connecting rural Maine is a collaboration with the state, communities and other pro- viders. ere are 40 internet providers in the state, and many are working to fill the gaps. But he says the "scrappy little company" has some things going for it that others don't. e same thing that makes much of what Axiom does necessary — sparsely populated and remote areas — also helps make the company effective. Working out of Washington County means that Axiom understands the challenges firsthand. "We work in one of Maine's most difficult places to work," Ouellette says. "It's difficult terrain, very spread out, and we've been doing it for 14 years." Ouellette, a Biddeford native, says, despite the fact he spends many days criss-crossing the state, he loves his job. "I love Maine, and I want to support Maine," he says. He says Axiom is built on that same feeling — what it can do to make Maine better — and those who work there feel the same way. "When you love your work, you do well at it," he says. "We can move the ship much more easily that way." Maureen Milliken, Mainebiz staff writer, can be reached at mmilliken @ mainebiz.biz » C O N T I N U E D F RO M PA G E 2 2 THERE IS A DIFFERENCE Because Construction Management Design/Build General Contracting Engineering Sheridan Construction www.sheridancorp.com Fairfield Portland 207-453-9311 207-774-6138 Freeport High School Closing the digital divide Axiom Technologies was founded in 2004 to provide internet service in under- served Downeast areas. Since then, it's taken on broadband projects around the state. Here are some recent ones: TV White Space: A program partnering with Microsoft Corp. to tap into unused TV "white space," the void created when analogue television was discontinued, to bring broadband to rural areas that don't have access to other connections. When Axiom was awarded a $72,600 grant from Microsoft in 2016, it was the only grant out of 12 awarded in North America. The technology isn't hindered by sightline issues, such as trees, and is faster than dial-up. Microsoft has since expanded its U.S. program, and Axiom is planning to expand its program as well, from the initial Washington County area the first benefited, including to the Katahdin region. National Digital Equity Center: Axiom's Digital Equity Center was formed in 2017 to help close the digital divide. The center is a spin-off of the Axiom Education & Training Center, which provides adult education in Washington County and digital literacy classes throughout Maine. Susan Corbett stepped down as Axiom's CEO recently and became director of the center. Digital Literacy Training: A $699,503 AmeriCorps grant to Axiom from the Maine Commission for Community Service will fund 16 AmeriCorps workers who will provide digital literacy training in eight counties in Maine for three years, to close the "digital divide." ConnectME planning: Axiom is working with a variety of communities that have received ConnectME grants from the state to plan and implement broadband initiatives, some recent ones are the Northern Maine Development Commission, the Passamaquoddy tribe in Indian Township, the town of Stonington, the city of Belfast, the Maine West Regional Broadband Plan in Oxford County and the Our Katahdin initiative in Millinocket, East Millinocket and Medway. Downtown hot spots: Axiom has worked with communities and economic development groups in downtowns as diverse as Millinocket, Waterville and South Portland to provide free wifi hot spots as a way to support economic growth.

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