Consolidated Communications (NASDAQ: CNSL) is marketing its Fidium Fiber internet services across several Maine communities while its fiber to the home (FTTH) rollout continues in the state. The company says it plans to pass more than 150,000 homes in the state with FTTH by the end of the year.
The Fidium service is available for order in Eastbrook, Eliot, Kittery Point, Long Island, and Stonington, ME. Meanwhile, another 34,000 homes in Bangor, Portland, Rockland, and South Portland can pre-order service. Meanwhile, Consolidated Communications will leverage $18.3 million in grants from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) through the Connect Maine Authority to partially fund FTTH deployment to more than 22,000 underserved addresses in such rural Maine areas as Farmington, Rangeley, and the Blue Hill Peninsula.
The company offers gigabit internet for $70 a month, including whole-home WiFi and the Attune WiFi management app.
“Consolidated Communications has been an important and collaborative partner in our work to expand connectivity options across our state, particularly in rural areas,” said Governor Janet Mills. “This is great news for Maine, and I applaud them for this initiative, which will advance our work of connecting more homes and small businesses to the high-speed Internet people need.”
“Fidium will be Maine’s largest fiber-to-the-home provider, and I’m thrilled to finally bring the Fidium experience here,” said Erik Garr, president of consumer and small business for Consolidated Communications.
Consolidated Communications may be the state’s largest FTTH provider, but not its only one. TDS recently announced its own plans to serve Maine residents via fiber as well (see “TDS Telecom to bring more FTTH to Maine”).
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