Digital Resources

GrowSmart Maine works in partnership with other organizations to achieve our goal of expanding broadband access and increasing digital equity. 

Maine Broadband Coalition  Maine Broadband Coalition (MBC) is a network of public policy wonks, educational advocates, businesses, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and individuals who care deeply about Maine’s digital future. MBC believes in the power of community-driven broadband planning, evidence-based policymaking, and multi-organizational collaboration to enable reliable, accessible, and affordable high-speed internet for everyone. GrowSmart Maine is a member of MBC. Nancy Smith, CEO of GrowSmart Maine, chairs the Maine Broadband Coalition Policy Committee. Join their mailing list and join in the weekly “Let’s Talk Broadband.” 

Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) Established in 2021, MCA is a quasi-governmental agency charged with achieving universal access to affordable high-speed broadband in Maine. MCA focuses on projects, places, and people, to expand access to reliable, high-speed, and affordable internet service statewide to advance digital equity for all people in Maine. MCA supports GrowSmart Maine’s Regional and Tribal Broadband Partner.  

Test your speed  Curious about your internet speed? Take this simple test to help define and advance broadband infrastructure improvement throughout Maine.

National Digital Inclusion Alliance advances digital equity at the national level by supporting community programs and equipping policymakers to act. 

National Telecommunications and Information Administration, located within the Department of Commerce, is the Executive Branch agency that is responsible by law for advising the President on telecommunications and information policy issues. NTIA’s programs and policymaking focus on expanding broadband Internet access and adoption in America.

Institute for Local Self Reliance: Community Broadband Networks, promotes locally rooted and democratically accountable broadband networks that provide fast, affordable, and reliable internet for all Americans. This site has links to many articles, recordings, charts, graphs, and fact sheets relating to broadband.

Digital skills classes:

Looking to improve your digital skills for employment or enjoyment? Kennebec County residents can find help with NDEC’s new Digital Skills Success Plan. Three components of the plan include:

1. One-on-one assessment with a Digital Navigator

2. Classes to meet your needs

3. Assistance with obtaining a free or low-cost device.

For more information, contact Kennebec County Digital Navigator Calvin Lewis at 207-802-5005 or go to https://digitalequitycenter.org/need-help/

The National Digital Equity Center is headquartered in Bath, Maine, and serves communities in Maine and nationwide with digital skills training including online classes, group classes at a public location, and planning resources to expand digital equity and digital literacy. 

The Maine State Library offers online learning through Learning Express, an interactive online learning platform featuring over 770 practice tests, tutorials, and e-books related to job search workplace skills, and more. 

AARP offers online computer skills training. AARP Foundation created video tutorials to help build your digital skills. Listen or watch whenever you want to the step-by-step guides and how-to video tutorials.

• Senior Planet from AARP also offers live online classes for seniors. These classes are for seniors aged 60 and older. Learn about Finance, Wellness, Fitness, Computers, and Technology, Need help joining a class? Call the free Senior Planet Hotline: 888-713-3495

Affordable devices for nonprofits and eligible residents:

Give IT. Get IT. is a non-profit organization and certified electronics recycler located in Waterville, Maine. They sell refurbished, affordable, electronic devices like laptops and tablets to nonprofit organizations and eligible individuals. Contact them directly if you need access to an affordable device for school, work, or telehealth.

Defining digital terms and abbreviations

Want to know the difference between HTTP and HTTPS? Confused about what is a URL or an IP Address?:  Check out 20 Internet Terms for Beginners

Broadband 101 is a one-pager on broadband terminology. 

Internet Speeds to Meet Your Needs is a one-pager from Education Superhighway that provides a guide to speeds needed for various sizes of households and uses.

For Further Reading: Broadband and Digital Equity Articles

“More Broadband, Less Sprawl” GrowSmart Maine Webinar:

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb-Y2R3aue0&t=2s

Broadband is Good, Spawl is Not, but GrowSmart Maine CEO Nancy Smith: (April 2021)

https://www.pressherald.com/2021/04/22/commentary-broadband-is-good-sprawl-is-not-how-can-maine-have-one-without-the-other/?auth0Authentication=true

A profile of Peggy Schaffer in The Daily Yonder. She is the retired director of ConnectMaine Authority.  (September 2023) https://dailyyonder.com/a-rural-calling-peggy-schaffer/2023/10/25/

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is winding down. An article by Sean Gonsalves of the Institute for Local Self Reliance and what it means to consumers and the effort to find sustainable funding for this program.  (January 2024) https://communitynets.org/content/fcc-and-broadband-providers-prepare-acp-wind-down

Maine Broadband Action Plan and Digital Equity Plan https://www.maineconnectivity.org/digital-equity  (scroll down for links to both plans)

America Has a Digital Skills Gap. Libraries Can Help Fix It. A still timely story from 2019 in The Atlantic about how libraries are uniquely positioned to help close the digital divide. https://www.theatlantic.com/sponsored/grow-google-2019/america-has-digital-skills-gap-libraries-can-help/3091/

Learn more about broadband initiatives and programs: