This week, the Broadband Planning Committee for seven towns in Lincoln County met to begin Phase 2 of their broadband planning project. About 20 people from Somerville, Wiscasset, Edgecomb, Westport Island, Whitefield, Whitefield and Jefferson heard from ConnectME Executive Director Peggy Schaffer who urged communities to keep on track to design needed improvements in broadband services. The ConnectME budget has been increased (which offers infrastructure funding support). She’s also hopeful that the Maine Legislature will approve a major bond package in early 2020 for a statewide vote. Mark Ouellette of Axiom Technologies, is the committee’s consultant. Over the next few months, Axiom will be developing construction costs and possible revenue models for each community, and will also identify how communities can work together. 

Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission, which worked with these communities to obtain the ConnectME Planning grant, is teaming up with the Island Institute to host a public forum on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. at the CLC-Y to focus on Damariscotta, Newcastle, Nobleboro, South Bristol, Bristol and Bremen. This meeting is open to the public. For more information, contact Mary Ellen Barnes, LCRPC, at 882-5983 or mbarnes@lcrpc.org