Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 29 J U LY 1 3 , 2 0 1 5 easily can be connected to both busi- ness and residential customers in those neighborhoods. Unlike the high-speed network GWI built in Rockport, which launched Maine's fi rst munici- pally owned broadband network last summer, Kittredge says South Portland decided to enter a long-term lease con- tract with his company to be connected to the high-speed network. Both projects, as well as munici- pally driven initiatives to bring high- speed fi ber optic Internet service to Islesboro and Sanford, illustrate a kind of do-it-yourself creativity that Kittredge believes is necessary to spur the infrastructure investments needed to signifi cantly improve the speed and quality of Maine's Internet network. His continuing concern, though, is that the state is playing catch-up with literally hundreds of other local governments nation- wide that aren't waiting for private Internet service providers to make the necessary investments and are fi nding unique ways to build their own high-speed networks. "Unlike much of the rest of the country, we're still trying to sort things out," Kittredge says, who fi rst sounded the alarm over the state's lagging Internet capabilities in a white paper he published almost a year ago, citing a national study that found Maine's broadband was signifi cantly slower, more expensive and less available than all other states except Montana. Rocking the status quo A June 23 article in MIT Technology Review by James Surowiecki credits Google with being the catalyst for spurring state and local governments to install fi ber optic lines capable of providing gigabit Internet service, instead of waiting for private ISPs to do it for them. Google disrupted the status quo, Surowiecki writes, when it solicited applications from cities to build new fi ber-optic networks in their communities and discovered more than a few were willing to be pioneers. Since rolling out fi ber-to- the-home service in Kansas City in the fall of 2012, Google Fiber is now working with 34 cities in nine metro areas across the United States that are eager to achieve ultra-high-speed Internet service. Surowiecki writes that Google is using its deep pockets to forego short-term gains in order to achieve broad social ends, which directly 1 # We're Find out why Androscoggin Bank is the top lender for SBA 504 loans* in Maine at androscogginbank.com. Smarter Banking ™ 1.800.966.9172 • androscogginbank.com To find smarter solutions for your business needs, contact Dave Eldridge, SVP and Commercial Lending Manager at 207-376-3626 • deldridge@androscogginbank.com. *As ranked in dollars lent and units by the Small Business Administration for FY 2014. "They always come to 'class' prepared." —Erin Mayo, Head of School & Jeremy L. Angell, CFO Fryeburg Academy with Steve Cote, President of Chalmers Insurance Group Call the Local Heroes at 800-360-3000 or visit ChalmersInsuranceGroup.com Like us on "Our mission is to educate students and prepare them for the future. Chalmers helps the Academy prepare for whatever lies ahead by continually educating us about the latest insurance options." Read more about how Chalmers works with Fryeburg Academy at: ChalmersInsuranceGroup.com/FA What makes Chalmers Insurance Group the Local Heroes for business? C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E »

• Cover