George and Kristen Mugnai were happy to hear that Alna will receive $122,042 to expand high-speed Internet access.
Their home is among 81 expected to get access as a result of a grant from ConnectME, a state agency tasked with distributing federal funds for expanding high-speed Internet access in rural areas.

Alna will partner with Internet provider Time-Warner, who will received the grant money and contribute $40,500 of their own to the project. The town will not contribute any tax money to the project.

The expansion covers 6.74 miles on Cross, West Alna and Lothrop roads. Service should be available by this time next year, a Time-Warner spokesman said.

The Mugnais live on West Alna Road and currently get Internet via satellite dish. Access and speed are "very weather-dependent and very unpredictable," Kristen Mugnai said. She calls their part of town "the black hole," because most of Alna already has high-speed access through various providers.

"It's been really hard being the ones who don't have it," she said.

ConnectME voted unanimously June 7 to award Alna's grant.

There is a two-week waiting period from the date of the vote before projects receive funding. That gives other providers a chance to offer alternatives. However, they also had that opportunity when the pre-applications were posted online, so surprises like that are rare, ConnectME Executive Director Phillip Lindley said.

Alna discussed potential projects with other providers before partnering with Time-Warner.

Second Selectman Jonathan Villeneuve worked with Time-Warner to prepare the ConnectMe proposal. The town spent more than a year looking into ways to expand Internet access, he said.

"That's great. I'm happy for the town, for the provider and the other selectmen," he said, when told of last week's vote. "But I'm most happy for the people who will be able to get the service."

Other local awards

ConnectME approved 23 grants on June 7, including Alna's. Among the other awards were $105,896 for a project in Jefferson (that town's second ConnectME grant); $109,620 for one in Nobleboro; $69,520 for one in New Harbor; and $24,345 for a project in South Bristol.

ConnectME denied a $72,000 request for a project in North Bath.