Poor Internet Hurts All of Us

Printed in Aroostook Republican, October 5, 2022
Bethany Zell
Caribou

To the editor:

I’m supportive of any initiative that ensures every resident in Caribou had access to high-speed internet. That’s why I was encouraged to hear that there is a simple, low-cost solution in front of the Caribou City Council that will connect all residents in our city.

Our lack of connection for all residents to affordable, high-speed internet hurts our community and economy. We should do everything we can to pursue the quickest and most cost-effective approach for providing coverage to every Caribou resident. To successfully achieve this, we must prioritize bringing infrastructure that supports service for the remaining unserved areas.

There are two options for the council to accomplish this critical goal. We can build a municipal broadband network, which would take years and cost the City of Caribou between $1.2 and $1.5 million just to purchase this approach approved similar projects only to find years pass without construction. The second opinion is to partner with one of the various providers that have made offers to the city to expand their network to the remaining unserved residents.

Currently, the city council has a proposal in front of them to connect every house in Caribou to reliable, high-speed internet for a fraction of the cost on a much quicker timetable.

This decision should be a no-brainer. The city should take the offer to give access to broadband internet to our unconnected neighbors in the fastest and most affordable way possible. As one of our City Council members recently said during broadband discussions. “There’s a way to do this that is less expensive” than spending millions on a mostly redundant municipal broadband network.

Let’s connect all of Caribou quickly, without having to risk our city’s financial stability.