A group that keeps track of broadband speeds across the nation says Maine continues to have one of the lowest rankings in the country. According to a study by the group Speed Matters, Maine's ranking this year is the same as last: 42nd in the nation.
Speed Matters measures the time it takes up upload and download data, a crucial factor in running businesses efficiently. Gov. John Baldacci says the state is working to improve broadband speed.
"Given the economy and the budget that we're all suffering nationally with the recession, I think that for the state of Maine to put out this kind of financing and to set into motion these kinds of grants and projects, we're being as efficient and fast as possible."
The Governor acknowledges the need of businesses to have better broadband access, but he says the problem is a national one as well. Of the 29 nations with significiant broadband infrastructure that the group surveyed, the United States ranked last, well behind Japan, Sweden and Latvia.