Writing a story about Maine's lack of Internet access seemed a little hypocritcal coming from one of the most well-connected places in the state. Though there may be some small pockets where reliable Internet is not available, if you want high-speed access, most likely you can get Verizon DSL or Time Warner cable Internet around here.

But for folks in other parts of the state, it's just not that easy.

We all know the drill - you live, or have family in an area where Verizon can't seem to get a DSL line out to, you're traveling and can't seem to find any place with reliable wireless, or worse, you're still...loading...dial...up.

Here's a fun map that shows broadband availability around the state from the Maine Public Utilities Commission An interesting note to this is that the people I spoke to at the PUC and at the ConnectME Authority both admit that this map is not 100 percent reliable because it is based on data from the Internet Service Providers. That means just because they have a network in that area, does not necessarily mean it will reach your house.

If you've been paying any attention to the news about FairPoint Communication's plans to buyout Verizon's network in New England, you know the company is promising to throw a lot of money to upgrade the DSL network in Maine.

But critics of the project ( and there are many, many critics of the deal) say FairPoint, a smaller company, will have trouble with Verizon's extensive holdings across Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. At the same time, both companies have had their fair share of complaints over service.

In talking with people from PUC and the Office of the Maine Public Advocate, the bigger issue here is that the existing data lines in Maine are aging fast, which could potentially set the state back even more in terms of Internet Access.

What this means is that as the rest of the country and the world gets faster speeds through better fiber optic data lines Maine could be going in a much slower direction.

Wayne Jortner, a lawyer with the office of the public advocate, said there is a movement slowly forming around the idea of using the Universal Service Fund, a federal fund used to expand phone service and provide low-cost phone access in areas, to subsidize the creation of next generation high-speed data lines across the country.

Obviously faster Internet is the key to all sorts of time wasters, fantasy football stats, illegal music and porn, but in reality it is a necessity for business and education. And as more people take to voice over Internet for their phone service broadband will be crucial to basic communication.

So here's the question(s) of the day to you - how would you rate high-speed internet access in Maine?

Have any Internet access horror stories?

Why do you think high speed Internet access is important to the state?

Let's get those comments going...

E-mail this entry to a friend