WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), Co-Chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, today released the July episode of his “Inside Maine” podcast, in which he highlighted the importance of expanding affordable high-speed internet access in rural communities as well as the work being done at the state and federal levels to bolster connectivity.

During the podcast, Andrew Butcher, President of the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA), joined Senator King to share his perspective on the importance of broadband accessibility and to provide an update on the various federal programs that are supporting broadband expansion across the state. Later in the podcast, Senator King spoke with Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV) about federal broadband expansion efforts in his state and the impacts on rural communities in both Maine and West Virginia.

“Access to broadband is critically important for Maine people to go to work, attend school and receive medical care,” said Senator King. “In a digital world, high-speed internet is more important than ever  —  but getting online is not always easy to do, especially for those who live in rural communities. I am proud to work alongside my colleague Senator Manchin to ensure folks in every corner of the country have access to affordable, reliable internet, and want to thank Andrew Butcher for his work to create a more connected Maine.”

A graduate of both American University and Carnegie Mellon University, Andrew Butcher moved to Maine in 2017. Since then, he served as the Director of the Maine Broadband Coalition, co-leading the successful effort to pass Governor Mills’ 2020 bond proposal providing $15 million to expand broadband. He also partnered with the Maine Technology Institute, the Connect Maine Authority, and the Maine Community Foundation to oversee data collection to support broadband deployment. In January 2022, after the Maine legislature confirmed his appointment, Butcher was sworn in by Governor Janet Mills as the first President of the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA). He currently lives in Portland with his wife and two children.

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin was sworn into the United States Senate on November 15, 2010, after serving as both a state legislator for 14 years and Governor for six years. Much like Senator King, Joe Manchin is committed to restoring the spirit of bipartisanship in Washington. Senator Manchin currently serves as the Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and also serves on the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Armed Services, and the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Born and raised in Farmington, West Virginia, Senator Manchin provides first-hand perspective on the influence of broadband access on rural, U.S. communities.

Senator King is longstanding advocate for the expansion of broadband access; his first op-ed as a Senate candidate in 2012 was to tout the potential of statewide connectivity. He introduced the Digital Equity Act of 2021, creating new federal investments toward programs promoting digital equity, and went on to be a key negotiator in securing $65 billion toward broadband infrastructure as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021. This year, Senator King cosponsored the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 to continue the ACP and ensure that nearly 100,000 households in Maine can stay connected to the internet.

The "Inside Maine" podcast airs on the last Saturday of the month on Portland Newsradio WGAN. The podcast aims to keep Maine people informed about issues affecting life in the state and how they factor into Senator King’s work.

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