BELFAST — Belfast was recently selected by the ConnectME Authority as a recipient of a Community Broadband Planning Grant in the amount of $15,000. The City of Belfast will be using these funds to create a Community Technology Plan.

This plan will include:

the defining of community broadband needs and goals;
network planning and financial analysis;
the assessing of municipal procedures, policies, rules, and ordinances;
digital inclusion and adoption;
economic impacts; and
public outreach.

Axiom Technologies, who has experience in these planning efforts, having already partnered with over a dozen communities, regions, and counties across rural Maine, has been retained by the city to oversee the implementation of this grant.

Belfast will be represented in the planning effort by members of its already-established Broadband Committee, according to a news release from the city.

According to Belfast Economic Development Director Thomas Kittredge: "The Mayor and the City Council have previously recognized that the accessibility (or lack thereof) of broadband internet plays a significant factor when it comes to both community development and to business development, and this planning grant, that they endorsed applying for, represents an important step in the effort to evaluate this issue and to develop plans and solutions."

Kittredge added: "While Belfast has some positive factors related to broadband internet access, such as the 'Three Ring Binder' running directly through the community and the presence of multiple active internet service providers, we understand that access to broadband is certainly not equal throughout the community, and there is likely some role for the City to play in addressing that."

Axiom CEO Susan Corbett said, "Axiom is thrilled to be working with Belfast and we look forward to working with interested stakeholders to develop a solid plan for broadband adoption and engineering for the City."

The next step for this planning effort, to be undertaken in the next few months, will be the distribution of surveys to both residents of Belfast and to the Belfast business community. The surveys will help to understand concerns regarding broadband, the costs of current service, where service gaps are present, and what needs exist regarding future connectivity.

Any person or entity that is interested in learning more about this broadband planning effort is encouraged to contact Kittredge via e-mail at economicdevelopment@cityofbelfast.org or via phone at (207) 338-3370, extension 16. Information related to this broadband planning process will also available online at www.cityofbelfast.org/broadband.

The ConnectME Authority (maine.gov/connectme) is a public instrumentality of Maine state government whose mission is to facilitate the universal availability of broadband to all Maine households and businesses and help them understand the valuable role it can play in enriching their lives and helping their communities thrive. The Authority's duties include establishing criteria defining unserved and underserved areas, promoting the use of broadband service, supporting broadband investment, facilitating state support of deployment of broadband infrastructure, collecting and disseminating information, and administering funds.

Axiom Technologies is an internet service provider based in Machias. Axiom's mission is to close the digital divide and connect every home in Maine to quality high-speed internet.