Bill to Eliminate Maine’s Broadband Authority Struck-and-Replaced by Committee

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2025 – A Maine legislative committee voted Tuesday to advance a revised version of a bill that initially sought to eliminate the state’s broadband authority.

The state’s Energy, Utilities and Technology committee considered LD 1975, sponsored by Rep. Jack Ducharme, R-Madison, which as introduced would phase out the Maine Connect Authority and the ConnectMaine Fund. Instead, the committee moved forward with a “strike-and-replace” version requiring additional planning, reports and recommendations before any such action could take effect.

At the heart of the debate are two modest communications surcharges that fund the ConnectMaine Fund, the state’s primary source of support for broadband planning, rural deployment, and digital literacy and device access initiatives.