Chebeague
Broadband Committee & Updates
The Town of Chebeague Island Select Board voted to create a Town Broadband Committee initially on November 16, 2016 with a revival of the Committee in early 2021. Its current members are: Michael Porter <mporter@mp-marine.com>, chair Mark Dyer <markdyer@chebeague.net>, Board of Selectmen liaison Michael Grew <michael.grew@gmail.com> Ehrhardt Groothoff <ehrhardtg53@gmail.com> Richard Hackel <richardhackel@gmail.com> David Hill <drhill@chebeague.net> Adam Kagan <adam@kaganfamily.com> Hugh Kellam <hugh.kellam@uta.edu> Gary Oderda <Gary.Oderda@pharm.utah.edu> Vail Traina l <sunsethill20@gmail.com> Vika Wood <townadmin@townofchebeagueisland.org> Overview The current Chebeague Broadband Committee has met since April, 2021 with updates reported on the Town Web Site, as well as in face to face venues and Zoom meetings. 1. We developed a Request for Proposal (RFP) which was released July 13, 2021 3. Broadband has been a discussion item at many Wednesday evening Select Board meetings. 4. On December 4, 2021, 83% of Chebeague voters present at Town Meeting voted to approve $975,000 to match/exceed funding from the State of Maine ConnectMaine Authority 5. On March 20, 2022, the Broadband Committee submitted a grant application to the ConnectMaine Authority in the amount of $800,000 6. On April 27, 2022, the ConnectMaine Authority voted to approve our grant request for $800,000 in funding to be matched by as much as $975,000 as authorized by our Town Meeting last December, 2021. Of the eight (8) awards made out of 23 applying towns or groups of towns, Chebeague was #1. The Committee extends its gratitude to all who have been supportive throughout this challenging process. Please see the https://www.chebeague.org/2021/broadband/FAQ%20INDEX.htm page for more information about the history of the Committee's activities and the draft grant application. | |