EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS—

Governor J. Baldacci The Governor talks candidly about Maine's economy- keeping ME on track for the future. Maine's tax burden went from 11.71 to 11.4% in three years.

Rep. Stan Gerzofsky talks about the exciting potential that the MRRA has turning the former Brunswick Naval Air Station into a magnet hub of industry and business development with about a thousand acres of conservation land.

MAINE VOICES—

U.S. Rep. Tom Allen discusses his plans to help veterans with PTDS                 

Sam Spencer talks about why Maine needs a historic tax credit for sound development

MAINE INITIATIVES—

Maine and New Brunswick looking to become an energy hub

Premier Graham of New Brunswick a partner in progress with Maine

Maine's natural resources will help make Maine energy independent

A new beginning - for the former Brunswick Naval Air Station

MAINE  COMMUNITY NEWS—

The Hathaway Creative Center fuels Waterville's renaissance

Maine Huts & Trails opens and is energy efficient

The Frontier Café, Cinema and Gallery —A Brunswick gathering place -

MAINE AS 'ONE COMMUNITY' NEWS—

Governor Baldacci looking after the needs of Maine's veterans

New Maine State Housing loans

Public Utilities Commission broadband breakthrough

BUSINESS NEWS—

Maine's innovative economy -New MTI grants available

Backyard Beauties to open new hydroponics greenhouse

NBA looking to Portland for a Development League

MAINE ECONOMIC NEWS—

Gov. Baldacci and the economy - keeping ME on track for the future

New budget cuts

Maine hit hard by Medicaid rule changes and Bush's proposed budget

Maine and New Brunswick looking to become an energy hub

ELECTION         YEAR NEWS— 

A debate with Maine's Democratic candidates for Congress

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Not authorized by any candidate, candidate’s committee, or the Maine Democratic Party

P.U.C. ratifies completion of broad band build-out

By Ramona du Houx

Verizon investment will make high-speed Internet access available to dozens of towns and thousands of Mainers

Verizon New England has completed a major build-out of high-speed Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) service in Maine, making good on a proposal it offered and the PUC approved last summer.

"This marks rapid progress in the effort to improve Maine’s access to the economic and creative potential of the Internet," said Kurt Adams, chairman of the PUC. "The commission accepted the proposal because it would bring new broadband service to more than 30,000 Mainers, many of them in previously unserved or underserved areas of the state."

The new DSL infrastructure is spread across Verizon’s service territory in Maine, from St. Agatha to Wells to Cranberry Isles. It affects large towns and small towns, from portions of Portland to the Forks and Brooklin.

Verizon submitted the build-out plan after successful negotiations with the Office of the Public Advocate, which represents Maine consumers in PUC proceedings. "We closely monitored Verizon’s compliance with the agreement, and those terms have been carried out," Adams said.

The agreement identified specific locations where new DSL will become available, increasing to 70 percent of the proportion of Verizon’s landline customers in Maine, who will now have the option of high-speed access to the Internet.

Under the agreement Verizon was required to complete the build-out, using all-new equipment, within six months. The company has provided weekly progress reports to the PUC and reported project completion this week.

The commission also facilitated negotiations on a related agreement which barred Verizon from passing the cost of the build-out on to FairPoint Communications, Inc. as part of its proposed takeover of Verizon’s landlines in Maine. That cut the cost of the merger for FairPoint, and FairPoint in addition agreed to make its own broadband investments to bring high-speed Internet service to 83 percent of all its customers’ lines within two years, and 90 percent over five years.

Chairman Adams noted that Verizon’s lines make up about 85 percent of all telephone lines in Maine. "If the Verizon-FairPoint transaction is completed as we approved it, these investments will go a very long way toward meeting the statutory goal of nearly universal broadband access for Maine by 2010," Adams said.

Customers wondering if DSL is available to them may go to Verizon’s Web page and enter their telephone number. The Web page will tell them whether DSL is likely to be available to them. A customer can also call Verizon directly.