In a recent meeting with the Journal Tribune editorial board, GWI founder and CEO Fletcher Kittredge was eager to discuss the near-complete Three Ring Binder Project and his vision for Biddeford’s future.

Begun last year and scheduled to be complete this summer, the Three Ring Binder Project consists of 1,100 miles of fiber optic cables that will bring high-speed broadband access to rural Maine. Federal grant funds for the project were secured thanks to Kittredge’s persistence and will benefit Maine residents for years to come with increased access and higher speeds.

Kittredge also hopes the project will increase competition and lower rates for Mainers ”“ that’s right, increase competition and lower rates.

After being awarded the $25 million grant under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Kittredge helped create a new company called the Maine Fiber Company that would build, own and operate the new network, and then sell the use of the network to companies like GWI.

This is quite remarkable considering that GWI could have kept ownership of the network and gained a competitive advantage. But that’s not the way Kittredge wanted it done.

Now, as the project nears completion, customers in the region will have new options for service ”“ as yet to be announced ”“ from GWI and other Internet service providers. The upgrade could also pave the way for new “hot spots,” which are often found in cities and allow for really fast Internet to be easily and inexpensively accessed. Kittredge hopes to see Biddeford’s downtown and mill district become one of these hot spots, which could provide incentive for new companies and industries to locate in Biddeford.

The University of Maine, which helped file the grant proposal for the Three Ring Binder project with GWI, also stands to benefit from the upgrade in infrastructure.

In terms of connectivity, said Jeff Letourneau of the University of Maine system in an interview with the Journal Tribune, it will put remote campuses like Machias and Fort Kent on a level playing field with urban campuses in Portland and Bangor.

Also, high-speed access is critical in terms of allowing the university to be competitive in conducting research and applying for grants, which is one of the university’s core missions, said Letourneau.

These advances could mean great things for Maine and great things for York County. The challenge now is getting the word out.

Business owners and entrepreneurs need to know where Maine is on this project and what it could mean for their companies. As technology continues to progress and its use becomes more widespread, businesses will become more dependent on Internet service and their work will be much easier with improved access, high speeds and low costs.

We hope the organizations that promote business in Maine, like chambers of commerce, will start to advertise this expansion of Internet access and the commitment of people like Kittredge to keeping the state moving into the future and on the right track to bring good jobs and businesses to Maine.

Ӣ Ӣ Ӣ

Today’s editorial was written by City Editor Robyn Burnham on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.