Back to Fort Fairfield Journal      WFFJ-TV      Contact Us

 

Internet Fiber Line Project Coming to Fort Fairfield

 

Fort Fairfield Journal, May 11, 2016

    For more than ninety inhabitants and businesses in a rural section of Fort Fairfield and Presque Isle, the wait for reliable, high-speed Internet service will soon be over.  Pioneer Broadband was recently awarded nearly $200,000 in grant funding from the ConnectME Authority to improve Internet access for many unserved locations along sections of Maple Grove, Presque Isle and Houlton Roads in the town of Fort Fairfield. 

“Pioneer and the Town of Fort Fairfield have been working for more than four years to raise funding to address the lack of service that plagues many rural parts of our community. By collaborating with Pioneer Broadband on this Fiber-to-the-Home project, World-Class Internet service will be available to more than ninety homes and businesses in this part of town. This project will also serve as a starting point to bring additional investment in Internet infrastructure to other unserved areas with fiber – a technology not only able to handle the current needs of our inhabitants and businesses, but that has the capacity to handle the even greater speeds that will be required in the future.”

The project will also bring enhanced connectivity to the Nordic Heritage Sporting Club, which recently hosted a World Cup Biathlon event, and needs improved Internet access and capacity to stage similar events in the future. The ConnectME Authority awarded more than $1.5 million to fifteen projects throughout Maine in late April. 

“Pioneer Broadband is committed to bringing reliable high-speed Internet access to communities throughout northern and eastern Maine,” explained Don Flewelling, Pioneer Broadband’s Director of Public Relations. “If a business or home needs gigabit speeds, this new Fiber-to-the-Home project will be able to deliver it with ease.”

The total cost of the project is roughly $250,000. Engineering work on the project is ongoing, with the goal to begin construction this summer. Pioneer Broadband hopes to have the project completed and ready to sign on new subscribers this fall.