Redzone completes broadband buildout for students, adds communities
Rockland-based Redzone Wireless LLC said it has completed new infrastructure that will allow free broadband to hundreds of underserved Maine families for remote learning. The telecom has also added infrastructure in four new communities and completed upgrades in a dozen other places.
Redzone added six new towers, including two in Lincoln and one each in Buckfield, Charleston, Dexter and Dresden, to serve more than 10,000 additional homes and businesses.
Funding to expand and upgrade broadband infrastructure in 18 regional areas for educational purposes, completed in late December, came through federal CARES Act funds, which were administered by the Maine Department of Education and the state's ConnectMaine Authority.
The new infrastructure will provide provide 50-Mbps broadband to 209 student and teacher locations, the company said.
Broadband infrastructure development began in early November, with new construction and upgrades completed by Dec. 30, according to Redzone. Service installations at student locations began in late December and are continuing this month.
“Redzone is pleased to announce completion of this extraordinary initiative to reach more Maine students with expanded broadband infrastructure, upgraded wireless technology and fiber capacity in record time,” said Jim McKenna, Redzone Wireless CEO, in a news release. “This program was a real catalyst to further accelerate efforts to address Maine’s digital divide and broadband affordability gaps.”
The company encourages student or teacher households without 25-Mbps broadband service located within areas approved for CARES funding to apply as soon as possible online for a free connection.
"Initial response to this Maine student broadband program has been excellent, highlighting Maine’s widespread need for both expanded broadband access and affordability,” said Michael Forcillo, Redzone executive vice president, in the release.
“Considering the urgency for remote learning prompted by the ongoing pandemic, it’s not surprising that hundreds of program applications have been received from areas all across the state."
Upgrades in 12 localities
Besides broadband for learning and the six new tours, Redzone also recently completed upgraded infrastructure on existing towers located in a dozen other communities.
They include Augusta, Belfast, Caribou, Morrill, Frankfort, Livermore, Rumford, Machias, Orrington, Jefferson, Sanford, and Union.
Those tower site upgrades increased total data capacity and coverage for thousands of broadband users across Maine, the company said.
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments