The Naples Broadband Committee was formed to gather information from residents and businesses through surveying, mapping, and testing internet speeds to help us understand the service we have now and where and how it needs to be improved. The Naples Broadband Committee was formed as part of the Maine West Broadband Boot Camp, a community training and technical assistance program, to expand access
to and adopt high-speed internet connectivity in Oxford County and adjacent communities. As part of the Boot Camp, members of the Committee will be gathering information from Naples’ residents and businesses through surveying, mapping, and testing internet speeds to help us understand the service we have now and where and how it needs to be improved. Members of the Naples Broadband Committee are:
DeAna Botta, Resident and Parent of Student at MSAD 61
Shawn Hebert, Resident, Naples Harbor Master
Jennifer Keneally, Resident, Marketing Specialist
Dani Longley, Resident, Naples Public Library Librarian
Paula Miller, Resident, Town of Naples Administrative Assistant,
Daryl Thibodeau, Resident, Cell Industry History, and Parent of Student at MSAD 61
John Hawley, Town Manager
This Committee was appointed by the Select Board to serve as a working group toward improved internet services to the residents, businesses, and schools in Naples. We know Naples’ residents and businesses want better broadband service, and some who do not have service at all. High-speed internet access is critical to improving Naples’ quality of life and the ability to remain competitive in a changing economy. It has been proven that high-speed internet access improves economic and business opportunities, educational outcomes, socioeconomic equality, telemedicine, public safety, and more. Small towns like your Naples also experience increased community involvement, engagement, and participation when internet connectivity is available. Here are some facts about the benefits of high-speed broadband that we think are important to understand:
Education – Students without broadband at home are at a significant disadvantage versus their peers. A recent survey of the families with students in MSAD 61, 2% have no internet service, and 10% have poor service or need to use cellular data for connectivity. Economic Development - Lack of broadband hampers entrepreneurship, job seeking, and business attraction and talent in a community. Currently, 43% of Americans are doing some amount of time working from home. Property Values - Studies show that homes without broadband access are, on average, worth 3.1% less than comparable homes with broadband, and the gap rises to 7.1% when fast fiber-optic broadband is considered. Health and Safety – Communities without broadband suffer higher rates of death, injuries, crime: and residents in these communities have difficulty leveraging new capabilities such as electronic medical records and e-visits. A study by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration found that communities without broadband access suffer 25% higher death rates, injuries, and crime. HOW CAN YOU HELP? We are interested in what you think and what you need. To that end, we will be circulating a survey about your broadband service or lack thereof, how you use it, and how satisfied you are with it. We invite everyone in Naples to complete the survey, which will provide us with important information as we seek to improve your town’s internet service. We will also be sending you information to test your internet download and upload speeds in the coming weeks. We need this information to help create a benchmark for Naples’ residents and businesses’ speeds. If you share our passion for and commitment to improving broadband in our town, please contact us to join our Committee. To join us in improving broadband in Naples, you can contact our Town Manager, John Hawley, at [email protected] or by calling 693-6364x106.
