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Maine internet, four years of the fastest fiber growth in the country

Fiber is available at 62.8% of the 645,807 homes and businesses the FCC counts in Maine, and wired broadband of at least 100/20 Mbps at 92.1%. 52.9% of locations have a choice of two or more wired providers at that speed; at 39.2% there is only one.1

FCC National Broadband Map, availability as of June 30, 2026 (data revised November 10, 2026), as reported by providers.

Northeast region, New England division

In June 2022 fiber was reported at 14.4%2 of Maine homes and businesses; by June 30, 2026 it reached 62.8%1, the largest gain of any state. Much of the state also gained a second wired provider. What is left is a thinner fringe in the north and west, where satellite is still the only reported service at a larger share of locations than in most states.

Spectrum's cable, Consolidated's fiber and the 5G networks

25 companies report terrestrial home internet somewhere in Maine on the FCC's National Broadband Map, with data as of June 30, 2026 (revision of November 10, 2026). They cover 645,8071 broadband serviceable locations: houses, apartment buildings and small businesses. "Available" on the map is the provider's own claim that it could connect a location within ten business days for a standard installation, and residents can challenge a wrong listing.

Two wired networks reach most of the state. Spectrum reports service at 72.3% of locations, nearly all of it cable with downloads advertised up to 1 Gbps. At 27.7% of Maine's locations it is the only wired provider offering 100/20 Mbps, more than any other company. Consolidated Communications reports 65.4%: fiber at 46.9% of locations and DSL over much of the rest, which is why it offers 100/20 Mbps at only 47.0%1.

Smaller wired networks fill in. GoNetspeed and TDS were not on the June 2022 map in Maine; GoNetspeed now reports fiber at 15.8% of locations and TDS at 3.3%. Xfinity covers 9.1%, with cable and some fiber. The wide wireless entries are less than they seem: T-Mobile reports fixed wireless at 63.6% of locations but 100/20 Mbps at 10.6%, and Redzone Wireless covers 34.2% with 100/20 at 0.4%1.

Internet providers in Maine
SpectrumFiber Cable72.3%72.3%1 Gbps27.7%
Consolidated CommunicationsFiber DSL65.4%47.0%8 Gbps3.1%
T-MobileLicensed wireless63.6%10.6%100 Mbps–
Redzone Wireless LLCFiber Licensed wireless Fixed wireless34.2%0.4%100 Mbps0.0%
VerizonLicensed wireless26.4%11.5%300 Mbps–
AT&TLicensed wireless25.4%0.9%100 Mbps–
GoNetspeedFiber DSL17.9%15.8%6 Gbps0.6%
XfinityFiber Cable9.1%9.1%2 Gbps1.9%
Wireless Partners, LLCLicensed wireless5.7%0.0%50 Mbps–
TDSFiber DSL3.9%3.3%8 Gbps0.8%
Aroostook Technologies IncFixed wireless2.5%0.0%50 Mbps–

Source: FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2026. Share of the area's broadband serviceable locations where the provider reports service as of June 30, 2026. "Only wired option" is the share of locations where it is the single wired provider at 100/20 Mbps. Provider-reported and challengeable; speeds are advertised maximums, not measured; no prices. Satellite providers (HughesNet, Starlink, Viasat) report service at nearly every location and are left out of the table.

No state added fiber faster

Between the first map (June 30, 2022) and the latest, Maine's fiber share rose from 14.4%2 to 62.8% of locations, a gain of 48.4 percentage points. That increase ranks the highest among the 50 states and DC; the national share rose by 25.4 percentage points, to 62.6%1. Maine started far behind the country and has nearly closed the distance.

What changed in Maine since June 30, 2022
Fiber available62.8% +48.4 pts
DSL available24.5% −32.2 pts
Gigabit (1,000/100)63.7% +52.7 pts
Wired 100/100 Mbps64.9% +50.9 pts
Two or more wired choices52.9% +41.4 pts

Source: FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2022; FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of December 31, 2025; FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2026. Shares of broadband serviceable locations in each FCC release (latest revision of each); the small number is the change in percentage points since June 30, 2022. The FCC's count of locations is updated with each release, so shares are compared rather than counts.

Show the numbers
MeasureJune 30, 2022December 31, 2025June 30, 2026Change (points)
Fiber available14.4%60.4%62.8%48.4 pts
DSL available56.7%25.9%24.5%−32.2 pts
Gigabit (1,000/100)11.0%65.7%63.7%52.7 pts
Wired 100/100 Mbps14.0%67.0%64.9%50.9 pts
Two or more wired choices11.4%51.1%52.9%41.4 pts

Copper retreated as fiber spread. DSL was reported at 56.7% of locations in 2022 and at 24.5% now. Upload speeds moved with it: wired service of at least 100 Mbps in both directions went from 14.0% to 64.9%, and gigabit service (1,000 Mbps down, 100 up) from 11.0%2 to 63.7%1.

The last half-year ran the other way on those two measures. Since December 31, 2025, gigabit coverage fell by 2.0 percentage points and symmetric 100 Mbps by 2.1 percentage points, while fiber still rose by 2.4 percentage points. The gigabit change ranks 2nd lowest1 among the states. The filings do not say why; the next release will show whether the dip holds.

At the top of the speed range, multi-gigabit tiers became common. The fastest advertised download is 2 Gbps or more at 55.1% of locations, against 5.7%2 in 2022. Consolidated advertises up to 8 Gbps and GoNetspeed up to 6 Gbps1.

Fastest advertised download speed at each location: Maine
Maine
United States

Source: FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2026. Maximum advertised download speed (Mbps) of any wired or fixed wireless offer at the location, as reported by providers to the FCC; satellite excluded. Advertised, not measured.

Show the numbers
AreaUnder 25 Mbps or none25–99100–249250–499500–939940–1,9992,000 or more
Maine4.4%2.9%1.1%0.3%0.1%36.2%55.1%
United States2.4%1.6%1.8%1.4%0.9%31.0%61.0%

A second wire at half the state

For many addresses the larger change was choice. In 2022, 11.4%2 of Maine locations could pick between two or more wired providers at 100/20 Mbps. Now 52.9% can, a rise of 41.4 percentage points that is the highest among the states. The national share is 55.6%1.

How many wired providers offer 100/20 Mbps at each location: Maine

Source: FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2026. Different wired providers (fiber, cable or DSL; FCC provider IDs) reporting 100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up or more at the same location. Fixed wireless and satellite are not counted.

Show the numbers
AreaNoneOneTwoThree or more
Maine7.9%39.2%38.7%14.2%
Cumberland County3.5%34.1%36.7%25.7%
Penobscot County10.6%31.9%38.5%19.0%
Aroostook County22.0%44.1%26.8%7.1%
Oxford County12.5%61.9%25.5%0.1%
United States7.8%36.6%44.6%11.1%

One wired option is still the situation at 39.2% of locations, down from 67.5%2. Three or more is rarer: 14.2%. Where two fiber networks overlap, which happens at 16.4%1 of locations, the choice is between fiber and fiber.

Somerset to Washington: how unevenly fiber spread

Every Maine county gained fiber, but by very different amounts. Somerset County gained +84.5 percentage points and now has the highest share in the state, 85.6%. 7 counties gained 50 points or more, including Franklin (+71.4 percentage points) and Sagadahoc (+71.4 percentage points1).

Fiber available: change since June 30, 2022 by county, Maine
Fiber available: change since June 30, 2022 by county, MaineAndroscoggin County: 61.2 ptsAroostook County: 33.6 ptsCumberland County: 43.8 ptsFranklin County: 71.4 ptsHancock County: 45.8 ptsKennebec County: 43.8 ptsKnox County: 31.8 ptsLincoln County: 59.6 ptsOxford County: 29.0 ptsPenobscot County: 45.2 ptsPiscataquis County: 62.1 ptsSagadahoc County: 71.4 ptsSomerset County: 84.5 ptsWaldo County: 51.3 ptsWashington County: 29.8 ptsYork County: 49.6 pts

Source: FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2026; Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file cb_2025_us_county_5m. Darker counties are higher. Point at a county for its value; the county table has every figure. FCC file revision of November 10, 2026. Shares are of broadband serviceable locations (homes and businesses), not people.

Show the numbers
CountyFiber available: change since June 30, 2022
Somerset County84.5 pts
Franklin County71.4 pts
Sagadahoc County71.4 pts
Piscataquis County62.1 pts
Androscoggin County61.2 pts
Lincoln County59.6 pts
Waldo County51.3 pts
York County49.6 pts
Hancock County45.8 pts
Penobscot County45.2 pts
Kennebec County43.8 pts
Cumberland County43.8 pts
Aroostook County33.6 pts
Knox County31.8 pts
Washington County29.8 pts
Oxford County29.0 pts

At the other end, Washington County, the easternmost county, has fiber at 41.5% of its locations and still reports DSL at 40.6%. Oxford County, in the western mountains, is close behind at 43.2% and has the lowest share of locations with two wired choices, 25.6%. Cumberland County, around Portland, has the most locations (119,971) and fiber at 64.7%1.

Fiber available by county, Maine
Fiber available by county, MaineAndroscoggin County: 63.1%Aroostook County: 48.3%Cumberland County: 64.7%Franklin County: 71.5%Hancock County: 60.5%Kennebec County: 62.4%Knox County: 59.6%Lincoln County: 75.1%Oxford County: 43.2%Penobscot County: 68.9%Piscataquis County: 70.7%Sagadahoc County: 73.1%Somerset County: 85.6%Waldo County: 71.2%Washington County: 41.5%York County: 58.2%

Source: FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2026; Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file cb_2025_us_county_5m. Darker counties are higher. Point at a county for its value; the county table has every figure. FCC file revision of November 10, 2026. Shares are of broadband serviceable locations (homes and businesses), not people.

Show the numbers
CountyFiber available
Somerset County85.6%
Lincoln County75.1%
Sagadahoc County73.1%
Franklin County71.5%
Waldo County71.2%
Piscataquis County70.7%
Penobscot County68.9%
Cumberland County64.7%
Androscoggin County63.1%
Kennebec County62.4%
Hancock County60.5%
Knox County59.6%
York County58.2%
Aroostook County48.3%
Oxford County43.2%
Washington County41.5%

North and west: where satellite is the only option

Maine's remaining gap is small in count and, as a share of locations, largest in a few thinly settled counties. Satellite is the only service reported at 2.4% of Maine locations, tied for 5th highest among the states; nationally the share is 0.8%1. That share has grown since 2022, when it stood at 0.5%2, even as fiber spread elsewhere.

Locations where only satellite is reported: Maine's northern and western counties, June 30, 2026

Source: FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2026. FCC file revision of November 10, 2026. Shares are of broadband serviceable locations (homes and businesses), not people.

Show the numbers
AreaSatellite only
Piscataquis County10.2%
Franklin County9.5%
Aroostook County6.9%
Somerset County4.8%
Washington County4.5%
Oxford County2.9%
Maine2.4%
United States0.8%

Piscataquis County, with only 12,777 locations, has the highest satellite-only share, 10.2%. In Franklin County it is 9.5%, up 5.8 percentage points since 2022. Measured by the BEAD definition, Aroostook County has the highest unserved share at 13.1%, followed by Franklin (12.3%) and Piscataquis (11.3%). In southern York County it is 0.6%1.

Unserved by county, Maine
Unserved by county, MaineAndroscoggin County: 0.8%Aroostook County: 13.1%Cumberland County: 1.1%Franklin County: 12.3%Hancock County: 3.8%Kennebec County: 2.0%Knox County: 3.0%Lincoln County: 2.4%Oxford County: 9.0%Penobscot County: 4.8%Piscataquis County: 11.3%Sagadahoc County: 0.8%Somerset County: 5.8%Waldo County: 7.2%Washington County: 6.8%York County: 0.6%

Source: FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2026; Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file cb_2025_us_county_5m. Darker counties have larger gaps. Point at a county for its value; the county table has every figure. FCC file revision of November 10, 2026. Shares are of broadband serviceable locations (homes and businesses), not people.

Show the numbers
CountyUnserved
Aroostook County13.1%
Franklin County12.3%
Piscataquis County11.3%
Oxford County9.0%
Waldo County7.2%
Washington County6.8%
Somerset County5.8%
Penobscot County4.8%
Hancock County3.8%
Knox County3.0%
Lincoln County2.4%
Kennebec County2.0%
Cumberland County1.1%
Androscoggin County0.8%
Sagadahoc County0.8%
York County0.6%
Internet in every county of Maine
Androscoggin County40,64163.1%97.0%60.8%0.8%Spectrum77.0% ±1.5
Aroostook County36,28048.3%78.0%33.9%13.1%Spectrum67.7% ±1.9
Cumberland County119,97164.7%96.5%62.4%1.1%Spectrum82.2% ±0.8
Franklin County18,20071.5%81.0%44.8%12.3%Spectrum70.3% ±2.1
Hancock County33,73860.5%92.1%36.1%3.8%Consolidated Communications74.0% ±1.9
Kennebec County57,32562.4%95.6%58.2%2.0%Spectrum79.3% ±1.6
Knox County21,85059.6%94.5%46.2%3.0%Spectrum76.3% ±2.1
Lincoln County23,35775.1%95.3%60.8%2.4%Spectrum75.0% ±2.5
Oxford County31,72843.2%87.5%25.6%9.0%Spectrum71.3% ±1.9
Penobscot County62,36968.9%89.4%57.5%4.8%Spectrum75.0% ±1.4
Piscataquis County12,77770.7%81.8%26.7%11.3%Premium Choice Broadband67.9% ±3.1
Sagadahoc County17,08273.1%98.5%66.8%0.8%Consolidated Communications83.8% ±2.3
Somerset County29,69985.6%91.3%63.1%5.8%Spectrum68.7% ±1.6
Waldo County20,27171.2%80.6%31.2%7.2%Consolidated Communications64.7% ±2.4
Washington County18,60641.5%75.1%25.9%6.8%Consolidated Communications65.0% ±1.8
York County101,91358.2%97.7%61.6%0.6%Spectrum81.6% ±1.0
Maine645,80762.8%92.1%52.9%3.8%76.9%

Source: FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2026; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year detailed tables. Shares of broadband serviceable locations as of June 30, 2026 (FCC). 2+ wired choices: two or more wired providers at 100/20 Mbps. Unserved: BEAD definition. Largest wired provider: reports fiber, cable or DSL at the most locations. Wired subscription: households with a cable, fiber or DSL subscription, American Community Survey 2020–2024 (± 90% margin of error).

5G home internet reaches less of Maine than of most states

Licensed fixed wireless, the category that includes 5G and LTE home internet from T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T, is reported at 77.5% of Maine locations, the 7th lowest share in the country; nationally it is 87.3%. In 2022 it was 92.0%2. Where it is offered, it usually falls short of 100/20 Mbps: fixed wireless at 100/20 Mbps or more reaches 19.9% of Maine locations, the lowest share of any state, against 47.9%1 nationally.

Which technologies reach Maine's homes and businesses
Fiber62.8% 62.6%
Cable79.3% 80.3%
DSL (copper)24.5% 36.2%
Licensed fixed wireless (incl. 5G home)77.5% 87.3%
Unlicensed fixed wireless2.9% 19.7%

Source: FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2026. Share of broadband serviceable locations where at least one provider reports the technology, at any speed; a location can have several. Satellite is reported almost everywhere and is left out.

Show the numbers
TechnologyMaineUnited States
Fiber62.8%62.6%
Cable79.3%80.3%
DSL (copper)24.5%36.2%
Licensed fixed wireless (incl. 5G home)77.5%87.3%
Unlicensed fixed wireless2.9%19.7%

So a wireless connection is rarely the only fast option in Maine. Fixed wireless is the only way to get 100/20 at 0.6% of locations, tied for 10th lowest1 among the states.

BEAD: a small remaining list, mostly fiber

The federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program allocated $272.0 million6 to Maine, administered by the Maine Connectivity Authority. The approved Final Proposal covers only 22,513 locations, at a BEAD cost of $48.4 million. That works out to $2,149 per location, the 2nd lowest among states with a plan. Providers added $109.4 million7 of their own.

Maine's BEAD plan: 22,513 locations by technology

Source: NTIA BroadbandUSA, BEAD Final Proposal Overview one-page PDFs. Locations in the state's approved BEAD Final Proposal by technology of the selected projects, as printed in NTIA's Final Proposal overview; subject to NTIA and NIST final review and award.

Show the numbers
TechnologyShare of BEAD locations
Fiber85.4%
Cable0.3%
Fixed wireless0.0%
Low-Earth-orbit satellite14.2%
Other0.1%

Fiber is assigned to 19,235 of the plan's locations (85.4%, the 4th highest share of any state plan), low-Earth-orbit satellite to 3,207 (14.2%), and fixed wireless to none. $223.6 million7 of the allocation is not tied to construction awards in the plan.

Two earlier programs also fund construction. Maine received $128.2 million8 from the Treasury's Capital Projects Fund, and USAC records 4,830 locations built with Rural Digital Opportunity Fund support, with $14.7 million9 disbursed.

Federal broadband programs in Maine
ProgramAmountAs of
BEAD allocation (NTIA, announced June 26, 2023)$271,977,723
BEAD Final Proposal: locations to be connected22,513
BEAD Final Proposal: deployment cost$48,369,286
BEAD cost per location$2,149
BEAD allocation not assigned to deployment$223,608,437
Treasury Capital Projects Fund allocation$128,245,250
RDOF: locations built with support (cumulative)4,830
USDA ReConnect grants reported to USAspending$0
Lifeline subscribers claimed8,692
Lifeline participation rate10.2%
Households in the Affordable Connectivity Program, February 202498,639

Source: NTIA BroadbandUSA, BEAD Award Recipients pages; NTIA BroadbandUSA, BEAD Final Proposal Overview one-page PDFs; Department of the Treasury, Capital Projects Fund Awards Made to States, Territories, and Freely Associated States, to date; USAC, CAF Disbursements and Locations Data; Department of the Treasury, spending_by_award API for Assistance Listings 10.752; Universal Service Administrative Co., Lifeline Disbursements; USAC, Lifeline participation rate; USAC, ACP Enrollments by County as of February 8, 2024. BEAD figures are as printed in NTIA's Final Proposal overview, subject to final review; "not assigned to deployment" is the allocation minus the deployment cost (NTIA calls it savings; how it may be used is not settled). The ACP stopped taking applications on February 8, 2024 and ended on June 1, 2024.

Subscriptions and cost

Census survey data describe households rather than locations, so they sit beside the FCC figures rather than inside them. In 2025, 93.4% of Maine households had an internet subscription (margin of error ±0.6 percentage points), up from 85.4%15 in 2019. 77.8% subscribed to cable, fiber or DSL (±0.9 percentage points). Only 11.1% relied on a cellular data plan alone, tied for 4th lowest among the states; 5.3%14 reported a satellite subscription.

Available versus subscribed: Maine
Wired 100/20 Mbps available (FCC, share of locations)92.1%
Households subscribing to cable, fiber or DSL (Census)77.8% ±0.9
Households relying only on a cellular data plan11.1% ±0.6
Households with no internet subscription6.6% ±0.6

Source: FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2026; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 1-year detailed tables. Availability is a share of locations as of June 30, 2026 (FCC); subscriptions are a share of households from the American Community Survey, 2025 (whiskers: 90% margin of error). Different units and dates: read the gap as a sign, not an exact number.

Show the numbers
MeasureShareMOE
Wired 100/20 Mbps available (FCC, share of locations)92.1%
Households subscribing to cable, fiber or DSL (Census)77.8%±0.9
Households relying only on a cellular data plan11.1%±0.6
Households with no internet subscription6.6%±0.6

The FCC map has no prices. For low-income households the federal Lifeline discount remains; USAC counted 8,69211 Maine Lifeline subscribers, an estimated 10.2%12 of those eligible. The Affordable Connectivity Program had 98,63913 Maine households enrolled in February 2024 before it ended on June 1, 2024. Current plans and prices are on each provider's broadband facts label.

Maine internet questions

What internet providers serve Maine?

Leaving satellite aside, Spectrum has the widest reported reach (72.3% of locations, almost all cable), followed by Consolidated Communications (65.4%, fiber and DSL) and T-Mobile (63.6%, licensed fixed wireless). GoNetspeed, Xfinity, TDS and Breezeline run smaller wired networks. In all, 171 wired providers report service somewhere in Maine as of June 30, 2026.

What is the cheapest internet in Maine?

No official source publishes Maine internet prices, and the FCC map has none; each provider's broadband facts label lists plan prices and fees. Lifeline, the $9.25 monthly federal discount for low-income households, had 8,69211 Maine subscribers, an estimated 10.2%12 of those eligible.

How many Maine homes still lack broadband?

3.8% of homes and businesses, or 24,729 locations, had no reliable wired or licensed fixed wireless service of 25/3 Mbps as of June 30, 2026, led by Aroostook, Franklin and Piscataquis counties. Another 14,775 had reliable service below 100/20. Satellite is the only service reported at 15,3961 locations, a share that has grown since 2022.

How much BEAD money does Maine get?

$272.0 million6. Maine's approved plan costs $2,149 of BEAD money per location, the 2nd lowest of any state, and 85.4% of its 22,513 locations get fiber; $223.6 million7 is not assigned to construction.

Checking one address in Maine

The figures on this page describe the whole area. Which providers report service at a single home or apartment is shown only on the FCC's own map: search the address at broadbandmap.fcc.gov. If a provider is listed there but cannot actually connect you within ten business days, or the location is missing or misplaced, the map has a button to file a challenge; providers must respond, and corrections flow into later releases. Prices and plans are not part of the FCC data: each provider must show them on its broadband facts label at the point of sale.

More on internet in and around Maine

Neighboring states: New Hampshire. Put Maine side by side with any state or large city in the comparison tool.

Sources

  1. FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2026; Availability as of June 30, 2026; released November 10, 2026. broadbandmap.fcc.gov
  2. FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2022; Availability as of June 30, 2022; released May 10, 2024. broadbandmap.fcc.gov
  3. FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of December 31, 2025; Availability as of December 31, 2025; released November 3, 2026. broadbandmap.fcc.gov
  4. Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file cb_2025_us_county_5m. www2.census.gov
  5. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year detailed tables; 2020-2024; released January 29, 2026. api.census.gov
  6. NTIA BroadbandUSA, BEAD Award Recipients pages; Allocations announced 2023-06-26; released June 26, 2023. broadbandusa.ntia.gov
  7. NTIA BroadbandUSA, BEAD Final Proposal Overview one-page PDFs. broadbandusa.ntia.gov
  8. Department of the Treasury, Capital Projects Fund Awards Made to States, Territories, and Freely Associated States, to date; Allocations under ARPA sec. 604 (awards announced 2022-06 to 2023). home.treasury.gov
  9. USAC, CAF Disbursements and Locations Data. opendata.usac.org
  10. Department of the Treasury, spending_by_award API for Assistance Listings 10.752; Awards with action dates FY2008 to 2026-09-30. api.usaspending.gov
  11. Universal Service Administrative Co., Lifeline Disbursements; Support months 2018-01 to 2026-09. opendata.usac.org
  12. USAC, Lifeline participation rate; released August 17, 2026. www.usac.org
  13. USAC, ACP Enrollments by County as of February 8, 2024; Enrolled households as of 2024-02-08 (Data Month January 2024 file). www.usac.org
  14. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 1-year detailed tables; 2025 (calendar-year sample); released October 29, 2026. api.census.gov
  15. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019 1-year detailed tables; 2019. api.census.gov

Margins of error (±) are at the 90% confidence level. A difference is called significant only when it passes the Census Bureau's test at that level. How every figure is built: methodology. Found an error? Write to [email protected]; corrections are listed on the updates page.