Maine to Hand Out Free Starlink Terminals to Unserved
Gov. Mills predicts Maine will close its digital divide by the end of the year.

Gov. Mills predicts Maine will close its digital divide by the end of the year.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2024 - Maine, in an apparent first, has decided to provide free Starlink terminals to its hardest-to-reach residents and businesses under a new program set to launch next month.
The equipment portion of the program alone would likely cost the state $5.4 million if all 9,000 eligible locations took the offer, but that would not include Maine’s offer to offer to provide free shipping and free professional installation.
The state, however, is not planning to help reduce Starlink’s monthly service charge.
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Permitting delays, transmission backlogs, siting fights, and supply chain gaps top the list.
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Outdated permitting systems could stymie nuclear projects needed for tomorrow’s data centers, panelists said.