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V I E W P O I N T S W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 3 F E B R UA R Y 1 9 , 2 0 1 8 For a daily digest of Maine's top business news, sign up for the Mainebiz Daily Report at mainebiz.biz/enews Get Maine's business news daily at mainebiz.biz and on Twitter (@Mainebiz). Below is some of the best from our online-only offerings: Featured @ Mainebiz.biz From the Editor T he ree Ring Binder is a term that's been bandied about for some time in Maine. A public-private effort costing $32 million, the ree Ring Binder was launched to "create an open-access fiberoptic network that extends into the most rural and disadvantaged areas of the state of Maine; from the Saint John Valley in the north, to the rocky coast line of downeast Maine, to the mountainous regions of western Maine," according to a state press release at the time. When it was launched, organizers proclaimed that the three rings of fiberoptic networks "will cre- ate the 21st century infrastructure necessary to sup- port Maine's existing industries," Indeed, in 2012, the Portland Press Herald reported that the ree Ring Binder had been completed six months ahead of schedule, con- necting 110,000 households, 600 schools and 38 government facilities. ere's no question the network was a huge leap forward for Maine. Yet there still lingered the notion that some residents were somewhere beyond "the last mile" of the network. As Staff Writer Maureen Milliken reports from Farmington, gaps in the broadband network still exist and, now more than ever, create a deeper division for businesses. (See Page 21.) With broadband still out of reach of some, she reports, businesses struggle to stay connected with clients. Students who can't get internet service at home are studying at McDonald's. Realtors are finding that homes without available internet are quickly rejected by potential buyers. Since the substantial investment at the front end of the ree Ring Binder project, money for rural broadband has come in smaller parcels. e congressional delegation continues to push for investment to create networks in rural areas, but rural municipalities are finding that they're often in the position of having to finance or build their own networks, at considerable cost. As Maureen reports, it's a slow process, but prog- ress is being made. Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz Maine's rural businesses struggle to connect 'Best Little City in New England. Seriously' Michael Hall, executive direc- tor of the Augusta Downtown Alliance wanted to do some- thing a little different in putting together a book for Arcadia Publishing, publisher of sepia- toned books focusing on local history, replete with historical photos. He wanted to make "the people living in the present the star" of his recently published book touting Augusta. The result is "Augusta: The Best Little City in New England. Seriously." Find out more at mainebiz.biz/bestlittlecity New CEO for Southern Maine Health Care Nathan Howell, a health care executive with nation- al experience and ties to Maine, has been named the Southern Maine Health Care's CEO, effective May 21. He succeeds Ed McGeachey, who is retiring after leading SMHC for the last 30 years. SMHC includes a full-service acute care medical center in Biddeford and a medical center in Sanford. Find out more at mainebiz.biz/newCEO Greenlight Maine competition heats up Greenlight Maine, an entrepreneurial pitch contest with a $100,000 prize, has selected the 13 semi-finalists who will move on to the Season 3 finals in June. The 13 companies advancing were selected from 26 semifinalists selected last sum- mer to participate in a weekly Greenlight Maine TV show that runs statewide via WCSH6 and WLBZ2 on Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m starting last fall. Find out more at mainebiz.biz/greenlightmaine Be ready. BE SHUR. bernsteinshur.com When you need outside legal counsel that feels like par t of your team. With broadband still out of reach of some, businesses struggle to stay connected with clients. Students who can't get internet service at home are studying at McDonald's. Realtors are finding that homes without available internet are quickly rejected by potential buyers.

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