The Boothbay Harbor Broadband Committee received a long awaited presentation on its and Boothbay’s broadband inventory May 4. Casco Bay Advisors Principal Brian Lippold explained the process he and his company used to determine all of the towns’ services.

Lippold said he started by soliciting information from all the area’s service providers: Spectrum, Consolidated Communications (CCI) and Lincolnville Communications (LCI). While LCI provided all and CCI most information, Spectrum provided little more than how many households and businesses are covered with its infrastructure – about 99% of Boothbay Harbor and 95% of Boothbay. Lippold confirmed Spectrum’s information was sound by driving every road and private road in both towns. “I find their data virtually useless, and that’s why we drive all the roads.”

Using Google Maps, he identified all road segments and gaps to determine where there is no service. Those places are likely on long driveways or private roads which would require customers to pay for installation, said Lippold. Boothbay Harbor has just half a mile with no broadband infrastructure.

It would cost less than $24,000 for Spectrum to build out Boothbay Harbor’s infrastructure to 100%, a pittance the company would likely pay for out of pocket to keep its hold in the area, said Lippold. Build-out for Boothbay would cost around $365,000 and negotiating with Spectrum would likely decrease that amount by nearly two-thirds, he said.

“We also used that same data to estimate what the cost would be to build your own fiber to home network, for Boothbay Harbor alone, that cost is … $3 (to) $3.4 million.”

Lippold said while it would be fairly easy to get Spectrum to invest for 100% coverage – bragging rights large companies like them love to have – other providers might be interested in overbuilding the area, especially LCI, which has put considerable effort into building out.

“They would be at the top of the list … but what we suggest is if you were to do something with this (information), you should reestablish your goals and vision and engage all potential service providers.

“You won’t know until you engage them.”

The goal may be making sure everyone has access and getting Spectrum to put in the little effort it would take, said Lippold. He cautioned not to assume the first option or first bid is the best option. “Talk to everybody … If you were to introduce competition, then you might see prices lower and service improve … Scale matters, so if you can do this together it makes a difference especially when you talk to other companies … It attracts interest from other providers.”

The committee said it would need to meet again to review vision and goals and consider many of the possibilities Lippold presented. Boothbay Selectman Mike Tomacelli said his board also needs to hear the presentation before reflecting heavily on any options.

Said Boothbay Harbor Selectman Ken Fitch, “For the first time at least in my lifetime, this is going to be considered as necessary as sewer and water and that moves the rock uphill very far. Now we won’t have to convince people how important this is. The question is can we do something about it?”

The committee will meet next at 6:30 p.m. June 1 via Zoom.