Maine Satellite Broadband Bill Tabled

Maine Joint Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee members voted Thursday to table a bill to create a grant program to cover costs of signing up for satellite-based broadband. The vote came despite significant amendments introduced by a sponsor and a call during a committee hearing by its chairman, Sen. Mark Lawrence (D), that the legislature instead might want to give guidance to the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA). SB-1107 as introduced, would establish a state grant program giving up to $500 to individual households in unserved and underserved areas of the state. After questions about lack of means testing and concerns about whether satellite service would meet the FCC's broadband definition, amendments introduced this week by Sen. Trey Stewart (R) strike language on use of satellite-based service and creates a definition for inadequately served areas. Stewart said the tech-neutral language recognizes that modes of broadband provision are changing rapidly. Rep. Seth Berry (D) said it's tough to envision a service aside from SpaceX's Starlink that would fit the grant even with the amendment. He also questioned the use of individualized grants rather than those targeting communities. ConnectMaine Authority Executive Director Peggy Schaeffer said the $500 amount "isn't that helpful" in covering last-mile costs. She urged the legislature to consider means testing for the grants. She also warned that the agency, with a small staff, has limited capacity to manage up to 2,000 grant applications. "This individual-type program would take a lot of work" to verify and track, she said. Rep. Steven Foster (R) said focusing on means testing is misguided since the state hasn't taken such an approach when subsidizing cable network extensions. "There has been a commitment made to get everyone connected ... at whatever cost," he said. Lawrence said with the state getting sizable federal money for connectivity efforts, now is the time to give state agencies legislative direction on what lawmakers' priorities are, such as a focus on the most un- or underserved and use of individualized grants. Stewart said he and MCA President Andrew Butcher will try to have proposed language ready for committee members by late next week.