How did we get here? Listen to: Maine Broadband Coalition Initiatives Across Maine
Did you know...
In Maine, effective January 1, 2008, a retailer shall accept, at no charge, used cellular telephones from any person. A retailer required to accept used cellular telephones under this subsection shall post, in a prominent location open to public view, a notice printed in boldface type and containing the following language: "We accept used cellular telephones at no charge." Effective January 1, 2008, a person may not dispose of a cellular telephone in solid waste for disposal in a solid waste disposal facility. https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/38/title38sec2143.html
In Maine, effective January 1, 2008, a retailer shall accept, at no charge, used cellular telephones from any person. A retailer required to accept used cellular telephones under this subsection shall post, in a prominent location open to public view, a notice printed in boldface type and containing the following language: "We accept used cellular telephones at no charge." Effective January 1, 2008, a person may not dispose of a cellular telephone in solid waste for disposal in a solid waste disposal facility. https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/38/title38sec2143.html
What's Happening - Fidium Fiber Update & More
Fiber is available to everyone...
Every home and small business - from Castine & Surry, to Deer Isle & Stonington (with locations in Orland as well) can get Fidium Fiber, most with no installation cost. Those who qualify can get monthly service at little to no cost with the Affordable Connectivity Plan (ACP).
DirectTV, Satellite, Spectrum, DSL, cellular hotspots of any kind are no match for Fidium Fiber's Cost, Reliability and Performance! See www.fidiumfiber.com.
Some multi-unit locations may need coordinated installations and some that need long conduit runs may experience delays due to access to specialized crews and frozen ground.
IMPORTANT:
1. Do you have a home business and use a CCI Business Account? Change to a Home Account and sign up for Fidium@Home!
a. Immediate cost savings of Fidium@Home vs. Fidium@Work or CCI Fiber Connect (if you have a business acct.).
2. Are you a HOME user of Consolidated Business Fiber Customer?
a. Consolidated’s official policy is to waive early termination fees for any Consolidated Business Fiber customer converting to Fidium Residential Internet service.
Fiber is available to everyone...
Every home and small business - from Castine & Surry, to Deer Isle & Stonington (with locations in Orland as well) can get Fidium Fiber, most with no installation cost. Those who qualify can get monthly service at little to no cost with the Affordable Connectivity Plan (ACP).
DirectTV, Satellite, Spectrum, DSL, cellular hotspots of any kind are no match for Fidium Fiber's Cost, Reliability and Performance! See www.fidiumfiber.com.
Some multi-unit locations may need coordinated installations and some that need long conduit runs may experience delays due to access to specialized crews and frozen ground.
IMPORTANT:
1. Do you have a home business and use a CCI Business Account? Change to a Home Account and sign up for Fidium@Home!
a. Immediate cost savings of Fidium@Home vs. Fidium@Work or CCI Fiber Connect (if you have a business acct.).
2. Are you a HOME user of Consolidated Business Fiber Customer?
a. Consolidated’s official policy is to waive early termination fees for any Consolidated Business Fiber customer converting to Fidium Residential Internet service.
Speed/Capacity tests
are not equal! |
Test of ONT - attune App
Optical Network Terminal (ONT) |
Test of WIFI - attune App
|
1. Test capacity/speed at the Modem/ONT via an ethernet cable (to your computer) which provides an accurate reading of incoming service to the Premise. WIFI generally does NOT. Even Better! Use Fidium's "Attune" App on your smartphone which can test both WIFI and ONT performance. 2. When you test a new service, ensure the old is not active or connected. Remove power to it! Examples are shown to the right 1st is ONT (Optical Network Terminal) Test 2nd is Test of WIFI from ~10ft Actual ONT performance is shown below it. |
SUPPORTING DIGITAL EQUITY (DE)
Supporting the development or employment of better Internet in a community goes hand in hand with Digital Equity (DE) and is one of its key elements. The Blue Hill Peninsula area group, referenced as The PUB, has a new domain name - www.pubfiber.org.
Our Mission Statement (since forming in 2018) states:
“The Peninsula Utility for Broadband (PUB) advocates for fast, flexible, affordable and reliable internet to incentivize business, support schools, advance the quality of healthcare, connect homes and facilitate long term education and socialization of our rural communities.”
Fidium Fiber became a reality for everyone who wants it in our area in March 2023, and our efforts will continue to ensure everyone knows just that, and why getting fiber makes sense over any other Internet service medium (Cable, Satellite, DSL, Hotspot…). Because of the Fidium Fiber price structure, it’s also critically important to improve the awareness and use of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), raise the awareness of technology (i.e., Internet use and tools) through training opportunities, and the general benefits that access to the Internet brings for Education, Health Care, Connectivity with others and the other valuable benefits (i.e., Streaming and Phone) which are money saving and effective tools for everyone with good Internet access. Fiber is the gold standard and is used by every service – from satellites to cell phones. Fidium Fiber is the provider that brings it to your house! Not sure if you want to use it, you can try it for a month for free. For those that qualify, use your ACP benefit with any participating provider (your choice).
Do you have Fidium Fiber to your home? Do it! Can’t afford the monthly access, or is there some other reason? Fiber based Internet access is symmetrical, futureproof, and available with no installation cost, and for those qualified, you can afford the monthly access because it’s also free! Consider that if someone is on SNAP, Medicaid, or other benefit program - you can be qualified for the program.
Example: If you are a family of dour making under $60,000 you can qualify for up to a $30/month discount. No Internet Service Provider (ISP) can prequalify you. It is your family, not your address that gets qualified.
ACP - Based on Your Income (see: Digital Equity)
Moving forward in Maine, we know that reaching out to food pantries, churches, and schools is vital in presenting a common well thought out voice, using tools such as those the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) has developed, and the resources the Maine based National Digital Equity Center (NDEC) provides to help educate - often for free. Reaching out to Veterans groups (local/state and national) and other national and local organizations with local ties and related interests will be happening on a larger scale in the entire state and specifically here.
Where do you go with questions and answers? The PUB site www.pubfiber.org can enable a local connection or a link to a resource for help and may provide answers to questions already addressed on the site. The Fidium Fiber website provides many more answers and proactively addresses many questions you may have on their fiber service at www.fidiumfiber.com. Calling, emailing, or texting local resources can address many more – or point you in the right direction.
Question. Should I keep Starlink to get my money out of it?
Answer. Pay for your Starlink equipment costs in less than 6 mo. by switching to Fidium!
Fidium: $55/mo. 1,000/1000Mbps: 1st yr. ~$600, 2nd yr. $900
$25/mo. 100/100Mbps: 1st yr. ~$300, 2nd yr. $540
Equipment & Installation: FREE
Starlink: $90-$120/mo. ~150/20Mbps: 1st yr. $1,080-$1320, 2nd yr. TBD
Equipment & Installation: $600+
Question. Should I wait a year to find out if fiber works?
Answer. Everything you may use - from Cell Phones, Satellite TV, Spectrum cable, etc. - uses and depends on fiber. Everything!
Locally, parts of Stonington received Fidium in early '22 and others on the Peninsula starting March '23, and it works!
Supporting the development or employment of better Internet in a community goes hand in hand with Digital Equity (DE) and is one of its key elements. The Blue Hill Peninsula area group, referenced as The PUB, has a new domain name - www.pubfiber.org.
Our Mission Statement (since forming in 2018) states:
“The Peninsula Utility for Broadband (PUB) advocates for fast, flexible, affordable and reliable internet to incentivize business, support schools, advance the quality of healthcare, connect homes and facilitate long term education and socialization of our rural communities.”
Fidium Fiber became a reality for everyone who wants it in our area in March 2023, and our efforts will continue to ensure everyone knows just that, and why getting fiber makes sense over any other Internet service medium (Cable, Satellite, DSL, Hotspot…). Because of the Fidium Fiber price structure, it’s also critically important to improve the awareness and use of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), raise the awareness of technology (i.e., Internet use and tools) through training opportunities, and the general benefits that access to the Internet brings for Education, Health Care, Connectivity with others and the other valuable benefits (i.e., Streaming and Phone) which are money saving and effective tools for everyone with good Internet access. Fiber is the gold standard and is used by every service – from satellites to cell phones. Fidium Fiber is the provider that brings it to your house! Not sure if you want to use it, you can try it for a month for free. For those that qualify, use your ACP benefit with any participating provider (your choice).
Do you have Fidium Fiber to your home? Do it! Can’t afford the monthly access, or is there some other reason? Fiber based Internet access is symmetrical, futureproof, and available with no installation cost, and for those qualified, you can afford the monthly access because it’s also free! Consider that if someone is on SNAP, Medicaid, or other benefit program - you can be qualified for the program.
Example: If you are a family of dour making under $60,000 you can qualify for up to a $30/month discount. No Internet Service Provider (ISP) can prequalify you. It is your family, not your address that gets qualified.
ACP - Based on Your Income (see: Digital Equity)
Moving forward in Maine, we know that reaching out to food pantries, churches, and schools is vital in presenting a common well thought out voice, using tools such as those the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) has developed, and the resources the Maine based National Digital Equity Center (NDEC) provides to help educate - often for free. Reaching out to Veterans groups (local/state and national) and other national and local organizations with local ties and related interests will be happening on a larger scale in the entire state and specifically here.
Where do you go with questions and answers? The PUB site www.pubfiber.org can enable a local connection or a link to a resource for help and may provide answers to questions already addressed on the site. The Fidium Fiber website provides many more answers and proactively addresses many questions you may have on their fiber service at www.fidiumfiber.com. Calling, emailing, or texting local resources can address many more – or point you in the right direction.
Question. Should I keep Starlink to get my money out of it?
Answer. Pay for your Starlink equipment costs in less than 6 mo. by switching to Fidium!
Fidium: $55/mo. 1,000/1000Mbps: 1st yr. ~$600, 2nd yr. $900
$25/mo. 100/100Mbps: 1st yr. ~$300, 2nd yr. $540
Equipment & Installation: FREE
Starlink: $90-$120/mo. ~150/20Mbps: 1st yr. $1,080-$1320, 2nd yr. TBD
Equipment & Installation: $600+
Question. Should I wait a year to find out if fiber works?
Answer. Everything you may use - from Cell Phones, Satellite TV, Spectrum cable, etc. - uses and depends on fiber. Everything!
Locally, parts of Stonington received Fidium in early '22 and others on the Peninsula starting March '23, and it works!
What is conduit?
Micro conduit Fidium uses (see pic) as needed, from the last pole to the premise, is buried in a "slit trench. ” The orange casing has a copper tracing wire and a pull tape. Tracing wire? https://www.kristechwire.com/what-is-tracer-wire/ 1. If an existing conduit is broken or blocked, it is your responsibility to clear/fix the path CCI/Fidium will generally follow. Once addressed, they can finish the job. 2. Micro conduit is used for locations where previous lines are buried with no conduit or where no service existed. They'll install up to 500ft at no cost. Some locations are not suitable for conduit (i.e., woods, ledge, etc.) - you may have to provide your own. A flexible conduit on top of the ground is OK and inexpensive. 3. Locations with buried conduit with no pull tape makes the work more difficult. |
CLARIFICATION:
1. Fidium is not the same service as Consolidated Fiber Connect.
a. Have a Consolidated Business Account at work or at your home? You get Consolidated Fiber Connect.
b. Have a Consolidated Home Account with copper phone line or DSL on your home account (even if used for work) you get Fidium@Home.
c. Have any other service at "work" for your Business you get Fidium@Work.
d. Setting your home business up on a Business Account is NOT cost effective for tax purposes!
2. Fidium Fiber's available NOW and ordering it ONLINE is the easiest!
a. Even if you're unsure, GET IT! It's FREE for the 1st month!. Get it to the House and decide.
3. Don't transition to VOIP until your Fiber Installation is complete.
a. You may lose phone/DSL if installation is delayed and the transfer is initiated. Both operate on the same copper phone line. Keep DSL or other service until the Fiber is up and running - then do it.
4. If you have CCI for Phone and DSL, only cancel DSL if you're keeping your phone line.
5. Consolidated Fiber Connect does not have the same benefits as Fidium@home or @work. There is no app and no free extenders, etc.
Fidium Fiber Connection for the "last pole" to the house
When an installation is scheduled, installers will complete exterior tasks before the date you receive. If tasks are not completed, the interior connection date may slide.
Tasks may include:
1. Fiber down a road/long driveway to the last pole. Resident does not need to be there. No Cost and no distance limit.
2. Fiber in a new/existing conduit to the house - ready for install date (or from the last pole to the house exterior). Resident does not need to be there.
No Cost up to 500ft.
a. They'll return and bury conduit/fiber cable if laid on the ground due to weather related or other issues if they are able to do so. Conduit laid over ledges, tree roots, etc. can not be buried.
3. Scheduled Install date. Resident needs to be there for interior work. No Cost.
4. If there is no clear communication path and conduit is needed, it may have to be installed under/over the ground.
Monthly Pricing is shown on Q&A Page. Fidium will have the latest.
For process info: https://www.fidiumfiber.com/Support/getting-started/getting-ready-for-your-installation
1. Fidium is not the same service as Consolidated Fiber Connect.
a. Have a Consolidated Business Account at work or at your home? You get Consolidated Fiber Connect.
b. Have a Consolidated Home Account with copper phone line or DSL on your home account (even if used for work) you get Fidium@Home.
c. Have any other service at "work" for your Business you get Fidium@Work.
d. Setting your home business up on a Business Account is NOT cost effective for tax purposes!
2. Fidium Fiber's available NOW and ordering it ONLINE is the easiest!
a. Even if you're unsure, GET IT! It's FREE for the 1st month!. Get it to the House and decide.
3. Don't transition to VOIP until your Fiber Installation is complete.
a. You may lose phone/DSL if installation is delayed and the transfer is initiated. Both operate on the same copper phone line. Keep DSL or other service until the Fiber is up and running - then do it.
4. If you have CCI for Phone and DSL, only cancel DSL if you're keeping your phone line.
5. Consolidated Fiber Connect does not have the same benefits as Fidium@home or @work. There is no app and no free extenders, etc.
Fidium Fiber Connection for the "last pole" to the house
When an installation is scheduled, installers will complete exterior tasks before the date you receive. If tasks are not completed, the interior connection date may slide.
Tasks may include:
1. Fiber down a road/long driveway to the last pole. Resident does not need to be there. No Cost and no distance limit.
2. Fiber in a new/existing conduit to the house - ready for install date (or from the last pole to the house exterior). Resident does not need to be there.
No Cost up to 500ft.
a. They'll return and bury conduit/fiber cable if laid on the ground due to weather related or other issues if they are able to do so. Conduit laid over ledges, tree roots, etc. can not be buried.
3. Scheduled Install date. Resident needs to be there for interior work. No Cost.
4. If there is no clear communication path and conduit is needed, it may have to be installed under/over the ground.
Monthly Pricing is shown on Q&A Page. Fidium will have the latest.
For process info: https://www.fidiumfiber.com/Support/getting-started/getting-ready-for-your-installation
The Award Summary - Peninsula Beneficiaries: Blue Hill, Brooklin, Brooksville, Castine, Deer Isle, Penobscot, Sedgwick and Stonington (See press release)
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) AWARD
ConnectMaine is awarded funds from the NTIA to help provide Fiber to the Premise (FTTP) for the Blue Hill Peninsula. The combination of funding from NTIA, CCI’s prior FCC RDOF award, and CCI's own financial contribution, makes this possible. ConnectMaine submitted an application on August 17th for part of the NTIA funds set aside for Broadband ($288 Million). The application process occurred concurrently with the 4-Town RFP process and ConnectMaine chose CCI (www.fidiumfiber.com) as the Internet Service Provider (ISP) for area. The award was announced February 25th 2022 and requires no funding from the communities it will serve. It technically meets and geographically exceeds the 4-Town Joint Report's goals. Only 13 applications of 230 received were awarded.
Blue Hill, Brooksville, Deer Isle and Penobscot (The Towns) released a Request for Proposal (RFP) on July 9th 2021, receiving proposals from six (6) Respondents. The 4-Town Joint Status Report and Process Review was released January 7th.
The RFP and Joint Status Report outline the following baseline for service:
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) AWARD
ConnectMaine is awarded funds from the NTIA to help provide Fiber to the Premise (FTTP) for the Blue Hill Peninsula. The combination of funding from NTIA, CCI’s prior FCC RDOF award, and CCI's own financial contribution, makes this possible. ConnectMaine submitted an application on August 17th for part of the NTIA funds set aside for Broadband ($288 Million). The application process occurred concurrently with the 4-Town RFP process and ConnectMaine chose CCI (www.fidiumfiber.com) as the Internet Service Provider (ISP) for area. The award was announced February 25th 2022 and requires no funding from the communities it will serve. It technically meets and geographically exceeds the 4-Town Joint Report's goals. Only 13 applications of 230 received were awarded.
Blue Hill, Brooksville, Deer Isle and Penobscot (The Towns) released a Request for Proposal (RFP) on July 9th 2021, receiving proposals from six (6) Respondents. The 4-Town Joint Status Report and Process Review was released January 7th.
The RFP and Joint Status Report outline the following baseline for service:
- Full Fiber Optic Network: Fiber to the Premise (FTTP)
- Ubiquitous: Available to any location currently served by grid-connected electricity and/or wireline telephone
- Available capacity of 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) Upload and Download [equivalency] or greater
- Symmetrical service (i.e., 100Mbps/100Mbps)
- No data caps and no throttling of data
- Aerial (or existing available conduit) installation standard with minimal start-up/connection costs; reasonable connections and underground requirements identified and addressed as applicable
State of Maine-Statewide Broadband Action Plan 2020.pdf | |
File Size: | 1533 kb |
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