Dear Editor:

The Island Institute provided unbiased and incredibly valuable help to the Westport Island Broadband & Cable Committee throughout our project to expand broadband access to everyone on Westport Island.

Our committee, and project, significantly benefited from the Island Institute’s deep broadband and grant application expertise. Over the course of several calls, emails and Zoom meetings, we asked the Island Institute a multitude of wide-ranging and often challenging questions. The Island Institute team always provided steady, practical insights. We did not receive any agenda-based guidance - including when discussing potential Internet Service Provider (ISP) partners. Our committee felt buoyed by the Island Institute team’s ability to remain objective and focused on helping us do what we felt was best for our community.

The Westport Island Broadband Committee is grateful to the Island Institute for their support and work toward building a collaborative broadband community in Maine.

Westport Island Broadband & Cable Committee

Ralph Jacobs, Jason Kates,

Kate Stoodley and Jeff Tarbox