Fiber for Breakfast 2023 Week 28 – Moose, Lobsters, Blueberries and Broadband

In this Fiber for Breakfast, Peggy Schaffer, Executive Director of ConnectMaine Authority, will discuss securing $28 million in NTIA grant money and key partnerships she has made for the benefit of her state and its residents. The NTIA Broadband Infrastructure grant was built on a history of community engagement, sophisticated data and targeting, and collaborations with industry partners. This webinar will highlight how Maine is building on this successful model as it develops its strategy for Capital Projects funds, BEAD, Middle Mile and DEA programs.

Webinar Guest:

Peggy Shaffer is the Executive Director of the ConnectME Authority, Maine’s program to expand broadband to unserved areas of the state. As Director, Peggy does all the normal things a director does including budgets, grant processes, and public outreach. Critical to Maine’s program is understanding the continually changing landscape of broadband and creating strategies to meet those challenges. State programs are a continuous process improvement effort. This past year Peggy has led ConnectMaine in developing a Verification and Validation process for infrastructure grants, a Broadband Intelligence Platform, and a structure to support communities in the development of Broadband Utility Districts and a successful application to the NTIA Broadband Infrastructure Program. Prior to joining ConnectME, Peggy was the Small Business Advocate in the Secretary of State’s office and served as the Co-chair for the Maine Broadband Coalition. Using her 20 years of political work from serving as the lobbyist for the Department of Economic and Community Development as well as Chief of Staff in the Maine State Senate, Peggy brings an understanding that this work requires multiple strategies to be successful, including a good sense of humor.