Joint committee recommends confirmation of five Maine Connectivity Authority reappointments
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Summary
The Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology voted to recommend reappointment of five members to the Maine Connectivity Authority, including president Andrew Butcher, following testimony from the governor's office, the nominees and industry supporters. Votes were recorded by roll call for each nominee.
The Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology recommended confirmation of five reappointments to the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA), voting on nominations from Gov. Janet Mills' office after public hearing testimony and questions from committee members.
The committee recommended confirmation of Andrew Butcher (president, MCA); Michael Reed (Palermo); Danielle Louder (Cornville); Hannah Carter (Orono); and James Carlson (Gorham). The committee held public statements from the governor's representative, the nominees and one online public witness before taking roll-call votes on each nomination.
On behalf of the governor, Mike Duguay, commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, spoke in support of each nominee and highlighted MCA's role expanding high‑speed broadband in Maine. Duguay said the authority has helped leverage state and federal funds and bring technical and management expertise to projects.
Andrew Butcher, MCA president since 2022, reviewed the authority's near-term priorities, saying the authority is focused on executing the federal BEAD program rollout to reach the roughly 21,000 remaining unserved BEAD‑eligible locations; completing a state- and federally funded middle‑mile optical network to enable greater choice; and advancing statutory consolidation of MCA and ConnectMaine to streamline governance. Butcher told the committee MCA has identified approximately 632,000 broadband-serviceable locations statewide, of which about 135,000 have been funded and connected over the last four years and “well over 200,000” already have service.
Industry testimony included an online appearance by Sarah Davis, vice president of market development at Phidion Fiber, who told the committee MCA partnerships and project financing helped bring fiber to more than 100,000 Mainers and leveraged private investment tied to those projects. Davis urged continuity in leadership to finish remaining builds.
Committee members asked nominees about timelines, affordability and net‑neutrality limits. Butcher said the authority sees affordability as an ongoing challenge; he cited outreach connected to the FCC Affordable Connectivity Program (which provided an approximate $30 monthly discount) and said diversity of provider and service options can help contain price increases. On net neutrality, Butcher said MCA has limited ability to enforce policy at the state level because the issue crosses federal jurisdiction and federal policy constrains enforceable state actions.
Roll-call results recorded by the clerk were: Andrew Butcher — 9 yes, 3 no, 1 absent (affirmative votes recorded from Representatives Runte, McIntyre, Geiger, Kessler, Sachs, Webb and Senators Lawrence and Grochowski and Representative Warren; negatives from Representatives Foster, Paul and Wadsworth; one absence noted). Michael Reed — 13 yes, 0 no. Danielle Louder — 12 yes, 0 no, 1 absent. Hannah Carter — 13 yes, 0 no. James Carlson — 13 yes, 0 no.
The committee closed each public hearing and proceeded to take votes in accordance with Title 3, 3 M.R.S.A. §157 and the joint rules requiring a roll call vote. Chairs Mark Lawrence and Melanie Sachs will transmit the committee's recommendations to the president of the Senate as required by statute.
What happens next: The committee's recommendation will be included in a written notice to the Senate president; the nominations proceed to the full Senate for final confirmation according to legislative procedures.
