Governor Mills Swears In First President of the Maine Connectivity Authority

Statement

Governor Janet Mills today swore in Andrew Butcher as the first President of the Maine Connectivity Authority. Butcher, of Portland, was unanimously confirmed for the position by the Maine State Senate today. The Senate's vote came just one day after the Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology's unanimous vote to recommend his approval.

The Maine Connectivity Authority is the new State entity charged with achieving universal availability of high-speed broadband in Maine. It was proposed by Governor Mills and created through bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Rick Bennett (R-Oxford) and co-sponsored by Representative Seth Berry (D-Bowdoinham) and the Co-Chairs of the Legislature's Broadband Caucus. The Legislature unanimously passed the bill and Governor Mills signed it into law on June 25, 2021.

"I am grateful for the Senate's unanimous confirmation, which is a testament to their confidence in Andrew's experience and expertise to lead the Maine Connectivity Authority," said Governor Mills. "With Andrew at the helm, and with the Authority's Board fully in place, it is time to build on our work to expand access to affordable broadband. Broadband is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity for every person, every family, and every business across Maine, and with today's vote, we are taking another step forward in our effort to make universal broadband a reality for Maine people."

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