Fact Check: "Over the last three years, the Maine Connectivity Authority has facilitated over $250 million in public and private investments to address approximately 86,000 unserved locations."
What We Know
The claim states that the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) has facilitated over $250 million in investments to address around 86,000 unserved locations over the past three years. According to a recent announcement by Governor Janet Mills, as of June 2024, the MCA has facilitated over $140 million in investments that have enabled over 70,000 connections across the state (Governor Mills Announces Federal Approval of Maine's ...). This funding includes a significant federal investment of $272 million from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, aimed at expanding high-speed internet access in Maine (Governor Mills Announces Federal Approval of Maine's ...).
Analysis
The claim is partially true. While the MCA has indeed facilitated substantial investments, the figures cited in the claim do not align with the most recent data available. The MCA has facilitated $140 million in public investments, which has been matched by over $80 million in private and community investments, totaling approximately $220 million (Governor Mills Announces Federal Approval of Maine's ...). This indicates that while the total investment is significant, it falls short of the $250 million claimed.
Moreover, the number of unserved locations addressed is reported as over 70,000, not the 86,000 mentioned in the claim. The MCA's efforts have reportedly ensured that more than 70% of Maine's unserved locations have been addressed since 2020 (Governor Mills Announces Federal Approval of Maine's ...).
The source of the claim appears to be a misinterpretation or exaggeration of the MCA's achievements, as the official announcements and reports provide a more conservative estimate of both the funding and the number of locations served.
Conclusion
The claim that the Maine Connectivity Authority has facilitated over $250 million in investments and addressed 86,000 unserved locations is partially true. While the MCA has made significant strides in broadband connectivity, the actual figures are lower than those stated in the claim. The investments facilitated amount to approximately $220 million, and the number of unserved locations addressed is around 70,000.
