Long-awaited Net help coming to FF
FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — For more than 90 residents and businesses in a rural section of Fort Fairfield and Presque Isle, the wait for reliable, high-speed Internet service will soon be over. Pioneer Broadband was recently awarded nearly $200,000 in grant funding from the ConnectME Authority to improve Internet access for many unserved locations along sections of Maple Grove, Presque Isle and Houlton Roads in the town of Fort Fairfield.
“We are thrilled that the ConnectME Authority has agreed to assist with funding for this important project,” said Tim Goff, Fort Fairfield’s marketing and economic director. “Pioneer and the Town of Fort Fairfield have been working for more than four years to raise funding to address the lack of service that plagues many rural parts of our community.
“This project will also serve as a starting point to bring additional investment in Internet infrastructure to other unserved areas with fiber — a technology not only able to handle the current needs of our residents and businesses, but that has the capacity to handle the even greater speeds that will be required in the future.”
The project will also bring enhanced connectivity to the Nordic Heritage Center.
“Pioneer Broadband is committed to bringing reliable high-speed Internet access to communities throughout northern and eastern Maine,” explained Don Flewelling, Pioneer Broadband’s director of public relations. “If a business or residence needs gigabit speeds, this new Fiber-to-the-Home project will be able to deliver it with ease.”
The total cost of the project is roughly $250,000. Engineering work is ongoing, with the goal to begin construction this summer. Pioneer Broadband hopes to have the project completed and ready to sign on new subscribers this fall.
The ConnectME Authority awarded more than $1.5 million to 15 projects throughout Maine in late April.
