Maine Fiber Company, Inc. announced the completion of the first Three Ring Binder lateral on October 8, 2010, a five-mile section of what will become a 1,100-mile rural high-speed Internet network. A ribbon-cutting ceremony made Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick the first of hundreds of community anchor institutions expected to connect to the Three Ring Binder stretching from Fort Kent to Biddeford.

Maine Fiber is building out the network in several additional locations as rapidly as possible with plans to work throughout the winter. The pole attachment phase alone will employ small, family-owned and large incumbent detailers, contractors to perform make-ready work, eight crews of construction workers, and professional services. A large effort like this could mean jobs that forestall layoffs and add overtime hours.

Three Ring Binder is a good example of how public and private funding came together to connect the state to broadband services. BTOP funding will help build a middle mile connection to the large Internet hubs or nodes in Portland. Private money will support the laterals off the network needed to reach anchor institutions, including the state’s university and community college campuses, government offices, police stations, and economic development and training facilities.

Mid Coast Hospital illustrates how broadband access will benefit Maine. Beginning November 1, neurologists at Maine Medical Center in Portland will be able to treat Brunswick-area stroke patients via the Internet. High-speed Internet service enables the transmission of large data files such as CT scans. At the same time, patient information is protected over secure networks.

To see additional local media coverage of the project, please visit Maine Public Broadcasting, WCSH6, and Mainebiz Fiber Driver. To get an update on the project, watch Mainebiz Sunday’s The Business of Broadband Part 1 and Part 2.

Last Updated: October 17, 2011