Maine Fiber Co. gets green light to build middle mile network

Maine Fiber Co.'s dream to create a carrier-neutral middle network came true this week when Maine Governor John Baldacci signed a bill into law that will let the service provider build its 1,100 Three Ring Binder network.

The new law comes amidst great protest from incumbent service provider FairPoint Communications, which has continued to argue that Maine Fiber is overbuilding areas they serve.

Under the new LD 1778 law, the Maine government created a new public utility category--dark fiber provider--in addition to a "sustainability fund" to build out broadband network infrastructure to unserved areas of the state.

In 2009, a consortium consisting of Maine-based service providers, University of Maine representatives and state officials were awarded a $25.4 million broadband stimulus grant to help build a "middle mile" network serving rural Maine. Competitive Maine-based service provider Great Works Internet (GWI), which served as the lead sponsor for the grant, handed over the network buildout and eventual network leasing roles to Main Fiber Co.

For more:
- see the release here
- Bangor Daily News has this article

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