The final segment of fiber-optic cable is being installed along Crabapple Drive in Bremen by employees of Tidewater Telecom Inc. Bremen’s fiber optic broadband project, which began in 2019, was completed with final installation on January 23, 2024, bringing high-speed internet access to all residents of mainland Bremen. (Photo courtesy of Jane Carroll)
On Tuesday, January 23, Tidewater Telecom Inc. installed the final segment of fiber optic cable along Crabapple Drive in Bremen, officially bringing broadband availability to all mainland addresses in town.
Henry Goldberg, chairman of the Bremen Broadband Commission, said the installation of broadband infrastructure in the town went smoothly, with the exception of Crabapple Drive, which took two years of planning and logistics work.
“Everything else fell into place very easily and it was easy to work with people,” Goldberg said. “Installing the final section at Crabapple required switching from underground conduit to utility poles.”
The final installation on Crabapple Drive was the last piece of a project that began in 2019 when the Bremen Broadband Committee was established.
“The goal was to bring broadband into people’s lives,” said Ernie Carroll, another member of the Bremen Broadband Committee.
Carroll praised Crabapple Drive resident and homeowners association board member Deb Elliott, who urged residents along the drive to give Tidewater the easement needed to erect utility poles on their property. agreed to give it. This was critical to the completion of the project.
Before the commission began working with Tidewater Telecom, which installed the fiber-optic cable, nearly 0 percent of the town did not have access to broadband, Carroll said.
“Tidewater has really gained momentum,” Goldberg said.
Goldberg said state and federal funding and the efforts of Tidewater Telecom made it possible to install the network with no impact to the town’s taxpayers.
The commission successfully applied for infrastructure grants totaling $120,000 from ConnectME, a state organization that promotes the construction of high-speed internet infrastructure in Maine.
The grant covered nearly 20 percent of the cost of building the infrastructure, and the project’s partner, Tidewater Telecom, a Nobleboro-based internet provider, absorbed the remaining cost of building the infrastructure.
Additionally, with the help of the Bremen Select Board and available American Rescue Plan Act funds, the town was able to subsidize internet subscription fees for financially eligible households.
“Our goal was first to make it accessible and then affordable,” Goldberg said. “There’s no point in having (broadband) if people don’t have access to it.”
For example, two years ago, before any cables were strung or dug, free public Wi-Fi was installed at the Bremen Fire Station, giving residents somewhere to go online.
Goldberg said broadband committee members approached the select committee about securing funding for Bremen’s internet subsidy program, and the select committee gave them more money than they expected. That’s what it means.
Using remaining funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, selected board members will be funding a $25,000 grant program with slightly different standards and permanence than its federal counterpart Affordable Connectivity Program. We were able to put together the Bremen Broadband Benefit Program.
The Affordable Connectivity Program is a Federal Communications Commission benefit program that ensures families have access to the broadband they need for work, school, and more.
According to the Federal Communications Commission’s website, the Affordable Connectivity Program benefit provides eligible households with up to $30 per month in discounts on internet service, and households on eligible tribal lands. offers discounts of up to $75 per month. Eligible households receive a one-time discount of up to $100 when purchasing a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from a participating provider if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. You can also receive
“The ACP program has been criticized and may not survive,” Goldberg said. “Bremen’s program ensures that grants are available. The town and the National Digital Equity Center manage the funds, so we have access to grants, whereas ACP is one-size-fits-all. It allows for more flexibility in prioritizing (e.g., households with school-age children or disabled veterans).”
Goldberg said Tidewater has agreed to charge a base rate of $30 for internet service, so households in Bremen and those that financially qualify for federal subsidy programs will receive free internet. become.
Carroll and Goldberg said the push for broadband is to give Bremen residents the opportunity to access modern internet speeds, as online business and education are becoming more popular. In this day and age, this is important.
“This is fast. Previously, residents of Bremen had high-speed internet using satellites, but since most areas of Bremen are heavily forested, there were always delays.” said Goldberg. “Enabling broadband access will change people’s lives.”
The next step for Bremen Broadband Committee members is to start an equipment program so the town can provide laptops and other technology to access the internet.
“We’re trying to get hardware into people’s hands,” Carroll said.
The commission received the Spirit of America Award for Excellence in Community Service in November 2021.
Carroll said all committee members contributed meaningfully during the process. For a town of about 800 people, he said there are a lot of people who are active in the community.
“They do a great job,” Carroll said.
To find out if your household is eligible for financial assistance, call the National Digital Equity Center at 259-5010, email makeadifference@digitalequitycenter.org, or visit digitalequitycenter.org. please.
