Maine to Hand Out Free Starlink Terminals to Unserved

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.

“Consistent with other Maine Connectivity Authority grant programs, each customer will manage their own subscription with Starlink,” said Brian Allenby, MCA's Senior Director of Program Operations, in an interview Thursday with Broadband Breakfast.

Starlink terminals retail for $599 each and a monthly service plan with unlimited data costs $120.

"We are finalizing our contract with Starlink," Allenby said.

The contract, he said, is expected to include capacity guarantees to ensure that the state-purchased terminals can connect to internet service at the newly established speed benchmark of 100/20 Mbps.

MCA said that the state would notify residents of their eligibility and verify their Starlink applications as quickly as possible, though it noted that the pace would depend on the level of demand.

The state will provide an application window with a rolling open enrollment process, rather than a firm deadline.

Maine’s plan to provide internet for hard to reach locations falls under the state’s new Working Internet ASAP program. Maine plans to coordinate the bulk purchase of Low-Earth Orbit satellite hardware and service reservations from Starlink in November, hoping to close the digital divide for the remaining 1.5 percent of locations with no access to the internet.

“Maine has more work to do to build out our broadband infrastructure – but by the end of this year, everyone in our state will have the opportunity to access a reliable connection.” said Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D).

Starlink, the world’s largest LEO satellite provider, was selected by MCA through a request for proposal in the summer of 2024. Starlink serves more than 4 million subscribers globally who access service from a constellation of 6,000 satellites about 340 miles above the Earth.

The Working Internet ASAP program is one of several efforts aimed at increasing access to the internet in Maine. The state plans to introduce $350 million in new funding under the Biden Administration’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program in 2025.

This story and its headline was updated at 5:28 p.m. ET to reflect new information from the state of Maine. The previous headline read, "Maine, in an Apparent First, to Offer Starlink to 9,000 Unserved Locations."