Courtesy / AARP Maine, "2019 Critical Insights on Maine"
Close to 80% of respondents believe that broadband access should be expanded to unserved areas of the state.
Updated: December 4, 2019
AARP survey shows Mainers would support incentives to expand broadband network
Courtesy / AARP Maine
A survey released by AARP Maine shows the state's residents would be supportive of incentives to expand high-speed internet.
By Staff
Eight out of 10 Maine voters support state incentives to expand high-speed internet to underserved areas of the state, according to a survey released by AARP Maine on Tuesday.
That finding and a host of others are from the "2019 Critical Insights on Maine" survey conducted in October. AARP, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization devoted to representing Americans as they age, has 230,000 members in Maine.
Critical Insights, a division of Portland-based Digital Research Inc., surveyed 600 registered Maine voters age 18 and older for the study.
Other key findings:
- Half of all voters strongly support incentives to expand internet access to unserved areas;
- Three out of four surveyed voters support partnerships between governments and others to expand high-speed internet in Maine; and
- Eight out of 10 voters believe that elected officials in Maine should ensure that high-speed internet is available to underserved areas in the state. Half strongly agree that elected officials should ensure broadband is available.
'Mainers are very concerned'
"This survey reveals that Mainers are very concerned about the expansion of high-speed internet in our state, particularly to underserved areas,” said Lori Parham, AARP's Maine state director in a news release.
“A good broadband connection can decrease loneliness and depression, increase opportunities for furthering education, and expand services such as telemedicine and free captioned telephone services for the hard of hearing," she added.
A member of the Maine Broadband Coalition, AARP believes that affordable and reliable internet service can help older adults age-in-place productively and safely.
The group notes, for example, that high-speed internet, can improve seniors' access to medical care, civic participation, friends and family, entertainment and learning resources.
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments