Whitefield is seeking a $58,886 state grant to expand local high-speed Internet access.

Internet provider Time-Warner would pay another $17,250 toward the 1.96-mile, $76,136 project along Route 218, in the southern part of town. A total of 23 homes would gain access to service.

The town would contribute no money to the project, according to the Whitefield Board of Selectmen's preapplication letter to the ConnectME Authority.

ConnectME funds come from surcharges Maine's communications customers pay. Last year, several Lincoln County towns partnered with Internet providers and won hundreds of thousands of dollars in ConnectME grants.

Whitefield is the county's only town vying for a portion of the $1 million in grant money the agency expects to award in this round. More than 50 requests came in, seeking $3.2 million.

The requests can still change at this stage, however, ConnectME executive director Phillip Lindley said. Other providers who review the letters may speak up to say they were already planning to expand access in those towns. Also, new collaborations could still alter the requests.

Lindley expects the application forms to go out in March and probably be due back into the agency in mid-April.

Whitefield has other areas unserved or under-served by high-speed Internet access, Selectman Frank Ober said. Those may be the subject of future grant requests, he said.

Chelsea also looking for money

In neighboring Kennebec County, Chelsea is proposing to get high-speed Internet access for eight homes, with $6,000 from Time-Warner and $6,152 from ConnectME.

The project would involve Dondero and Hankerson roads, Jane Street and McGee Drive, according to the town's pre-application letter.

As with Whitefield's request, no local money is proposed to go into the Chelsea project.

Susan Johns can be reached at 207-844-4633 or sjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com.