To: Maine Legislature's Utilities and Energy Committee
Cc: Senator Damon, Representative Flemings, Speaker Pingree
Date: January 26, 2010
From: Brian Hubbell, MDI RSS
Testimony in opposition to LD 1697, "An Act To Protect Universal Service"
(submitted in advance of public hearing scheduled for Wednesday,
January 27, 2010)
Senate Chair Hobbins, House Chair Hinck, Distinguished Members of the
Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy,
My name is Brian Hubbell and I am the Board Chair of the Mount Desert
Island Regional School System, a school district formed by the eight
towns of Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, Tremont, Trenton,
Cranberry Isles, Frenchboro, and Swan's Island.
I wish to offer this testimony in opposition to LD 1697, "An Act To
Protect Universal Service".
At present, our schools receive internet access through MSLN via the
University of Maine's Research and Educational Network which was
developed through a cooperative community relationship with both
UMaine and MDI's non-profit Jackson Lab.
If enacted, LD 1967 would prohibit such relationships.
Increasing efficiency and productivity through shared resources and
infrastructure should be our goal at any time -- and certainly such
existing partnerships are particularly essential now at a time when
public resources are increasingly scarce.
Over the next two years, Maine's schools are going to be hammered by
cuts in state support. At the same time, they will be increasingly
expected to make fuller and better use of technology to achieve more
challenging educational goals.
In direct impediment to these real and present challenges, LD 1697
would both substantially increase school costs to taxpayers and
decrease technological access to our students. Please vote this bill
"Ought Not To Pass."
