BEAD Program Impact Assessment for Maine

This document is a technical report that outlines the impact assessment of the BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) Program for the state of Maine. It provides an analysis of the eligible locations for broadband funding, highlighting that 12% of Maine locations lack high-speed broadband access as of June 2023, which is higher than the state/territory average of 9%. The report details the estimated funding allocated to Maine, which amounts to $272 million, along with an estimated provider match of $153 million, leading to a total capital of $425 million available for broadband deployment. The document presents various deployment scenarios, including baseline and maximum fiber deployment strategies, and discusses the trade-offs between maximizing fiber coverage and retaining funds for other eligible programs. It concludes that the funding is sufficient to reach all of Maine's 51.2k eligible locations with high-speed broadband, emphasizing the need for strategic decisions regarding fiber deployment and funding allocation.