New Hampshire

Broadband is the Future of New Hampshire

Published

2 years ago

June 10, 2022

Press Room

Friday, June 10, 2022

Digital Beat

Broadband is the Way forward for New Hampshire

“Each New Hampshire resident, enterprise, and group ought to have entry to quick, dependable, and inexpensive broadband to make sure our present and future prosperity and high quality of life.”

—Broadband: The Connection to New Hampshire’s Future 2015

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In accordance with U.S. Information & World Report, New Hampshire is tenth total in entry to broadband, However the state ranks thirty fifth for information velocity. BroadbandNow estimates that solely 30 % of the state has entry to fiber-optic service and solely about 7 % has entry to 1-gig service.

New Hampshire’s Broadband Plan

The New Hampshire Broadband Mapping & Planning Program (NHBMPP) is a complete initiative that started in 2010 with the objective of understanding the place broadband is presently out there within the state, how it may be made extra broadly out there sooner or later, and the way to encourage elevated ranges of broadband adoption and utilization. This system is an American Restoration and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) challenge funded by means of the Nationwide Telecommunications and Info Administration (NTIA) of the U.S. Division of Commerce.

“We’ve to think about broadband simply one other utility, which is to say it’s a essential service that’s important to modern-day life.”—Gov. Chris Sununu

In 2015, NHBMPP printed Broadband: The Connection to New Hampshire’s Future, providing dozens of suggestions to make sure that high-speed broadband is out there to everybody within the state, that it’s inexpensive, and that folks know the way to use it successfully. The suggestions may be broadly summarized:

Set up a Broadband Authority and Broadband Council: New Hampshire wants an official entity that’s accountable for growing and advancing the state’s strategic broadband plan, for persevering with to gather information and map broadband use, and for looking for funding to assist infrastructure enlargement—a statewide authority. It additionally wants a broadly consultant stakeholder group to advise the authority and different public officers—a broadband council. Creating an official state authority and an advisory council to plan, promote, finance, assess, and assist expanded broadband deployment and adoption efforts is a essential first step to making sure that every one New Hampshire residents and companies have entry to inexpensive broadband.
Get rid of Obstacles to Broadband Availability: Presently about 70% of New Hampshire residents, and fewer than half of households in rural areas, have entry to broadband at speeds larger than 100 Mbps, the velocity mandatory for the simultaneous use of a number of gadgets, cloud-based enterprise purposes, telemedicine, and so on. Along with growing speeds in areas which are presently served, New Hampshire wants to increase broadband service to areas of the state which are presently unserved or underserved. Making certain that quick, dependable broadband service is accessible to all New Hampshire residents, companies, and organizations who need it’s important to attaining prosperity and a top quality of life in New Hampshire. One technique to encourage broadband enlargement is to remove obstacles to broadband availability. This consists of working with service suppliers, utility pole homeowners, regulators, and legislators to 1) streamline the pole attachment and tower siting processes; 2) enhance using freeway rights-of-way; and three) streamline utility pole licensing procedures.
Encourage Competitors to Enhance Broadband Affordability: The price of broadband service makes it unaffordable to a big variety of New Hampshire residents. A lot of the state has protection from just one or two wireline broadband suppliers, and this lack of competitors can result in increased costs. New Hampshire must encourage competitors amongst suppliers to convey the bottom attainable value to customers.
Coordinate, Promote, and Sponsor Trainings to Enhance Broadband Adoption: New Hampshire must coordinate, promote, and sponsor trainings for residents, companies, and organizations on the advantages of broadband utilization. Elevated expertise and data of broadband purposes encourages broadband use and can result in a well-educated, affluent, wholesome, and protected New Hampshire.
Monitor Broadband Availability and Adoption: New Hampshire wants to observe, stock, and consider its broadband availability, affordability, adoption, and aggressive place on an ongoing and common foundation. Grant funding from the NTIA for the NHBMPP resulted in early 2015. Persevering with to gather statewide broadband availability and adoption information is important with the intention to measure the effectiveness of broadband efforts and to offer a transparent image of New Hampshire’s broadband aggressive place compared to different states and international locations.

COVID Accelerates New Hampshire’s Digital Divide Efforts

Utilizing $50 million from the CARES Act Coronavirus Aid Fund, Governor Chris Sununu (R-NH) launched the Connecting NH—Emergency Broadband Enlargement Program in June 2020. This system sought to present high-speed web connectivity (outlined as 25 Mbps obtain and three Mbps add) to as many unserved New Hampshire properties as attainable in any case value to the state. This system demanded fast motion from broadband suppliers: requiring tasks to be accomplished as quickly as attainable, however no later than December 15, 2020. Funded tasks might be wired or wi-fi entry, however had been required to be public/personal partnership collaborations between present suppliers and municipalities.

“This public-private partnership is a brilliant funding for communities throughout the Granite State in increasing broadband entry,” stated Gov. Sununu on the launch of this system. “As extra Granite Staters are studying and dealing remotely, and utilizing the web to entry telehealth companies, this important enlargement program ensures equitable entry to service for Granite Staters.”

By means of the Emergency Broadband Enlargement Program, almost $13 million was invested in essential broadband tasks using CARES Act funds to attach almost 4,500 beforehand unserved properties. The state had put aside $50 million in CARES Act funding; the December 2020 deadline for completion of tasks might have suppressed additional participation.

“New Hampshire was one of many few states within the nation to make use of our CARES Act cash to put money into broadband throughout the state,” stated Gov. Sununu. “New Hampshire’s program was wildly profitable—bringing collectively the state, personal, and municipal companions—all to get the job performed and join our rural communities in a sustainable approach.”

In July 2021, New Hampshire enacted a brand new legislation establishing the Broadband Matching Grant Fund by means of the Division of Enterprise and Financial Affairs. Supported with state appropriations, presents, grants, donations, and out there federal funds, eligible tasks will present high-speed Web entry in unserved areas of the state that lack entry to broadband companies from at the least one broadband supplier. Any broadband supplier, political subdivision, or communications district is eligible for a grant of as much as 50 % of the entire eligible prices of a challenge. Utility analysis standards promote quicker service, as much as and together with gigabit service. The legislation permits communities to challenge low-interest municipal bonds to cowl their prices for tasks.

“I anticipate we might see as a lot as $100 million in federal help to develop broadband over the following few years,” Gov. Sununu stated when signing the invoice. “This provides the state a terrific alternative to do all we will to increase service to that final mile all through New Hampshire.”

The Workplace of Strategic Initiatives inside New Hampshire’s newly-created Division of Vitality manages the trouble.

New Hampshire’s Capital Tasks Fund Award

On June 7, 2022, the U.S. Division of Treasury permitted New Hampshire’s plan to speculate $50 million of the state’s Capital Tasks Fund allotment for broadband deployment. Though the Capital Tasks Fund can assist numerous makes use of that straight allow work, training, and well being monitoring in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, New Hampshire is concentrating over 40% of its allocation presently on deploying dependable, inexpensive broadband infrastructure.

The state has created the Broadband Contract Program, overseen by the New Hampshire Division of Enterprise and Financial Affairs, to supply broadband service suppliers with a monetary incentive to convey service to unserved and underserved addresses in the state—areas/addresses the place it could be financially detrimental for suppliers to aim to develop. Purposes will likely be scored utilizing standards that encourage the utmost variety of properties to be served on the lowest value and prioritize broadband networks that will likely be owned, operated by, or affiliated with native governments, non-profits, and co-operatives.

New Hampshire estimates that investments made utilizing the Capital Tasks Fund will serve 50 % of places nonetheless missing high-speed web entry within the state.

The Broadband Contract Program is designed to fund broadband infrastructure that’s designed to ship dependable web service that meets or exceeds 100/100 Mbps symmetrical speeds. Suppliers will likely be required to:

take part within the Federal Communications Fee’s Inexpensive Connectivity Program (ACP)—a $30 monthly subsidy for low-income households—and
provide at the least one low-cost choice at speeds adequate for households with a number of customers to concurrently telework and interact in distant studying.

U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) helped create the Capital Tasks Fund. “Entry to high-speed web is a necessity,” she stated. “From working a enterprise or managing funds to attending telemedicine appointments, individuals depend on web connectivity day by day. Sadly, many rural areas in New Hampshire nonetheless don’t have dependable web connections. That’s the reason I labored to arrange and safe this funding within the American Rescue Plan, so that each individual has the chance to succeed and in order that our state’s economic system can thrive.”

Extra Federal Funds on the Manner

Along with the $122 million New Hampshire was allotted from the Capital Tasks Fund, the state also can obtain at the least $100 million from the Nationwide Telecommunications and Info Administration’s Broadband Fairness, Entry, and Deployment (BEAD) Program.

Asserting the state’s intention to take part in BEAD, Gov. Sununu stated, “New Hampshire was the primary state to speculate CARES Act {dollars} to develop broadband entry and we’re able to proceed that success with this extra funding. Greater than ever, our rural communities have to be related.”

See Additionally

American Rescue Plan Fuels Virginia’s Common Broadband Efforts

Treasury Helps Broadband for Everybody in Louisiana

Capital Tasks Fund Aids West Virginia’s Billion Greenback Broadband Technique

Kevin Taglang is the chief editor on the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.

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New Hampshire

Standoff With SWAT; Crashes; Funnel Cloud Spotted; House, Business Fires: Nearby News NH

Published

2 hours ago

June 29, 2024

Press Room

Standoff With SWAT; Crashes; Funnel Cloud Spotted; House, Business Fires: Nearby News NH

CONCORD, NH — Here are the Top 10 most popular stories and posts from around New Hampshire Patch sites last week.

Several Law Enforcement Agencies And SWAT At Standoff In Merrimack: Update: After several hours of the person not communicating, officers made entry, found the person had a fatal self-inflicted gunshot wound.
NH Man Who Threatened GOP Presidential Candidates Found Dead In Concord Hospital Garage: Tyler Anderson was found dead in a parking garage on Wednesday night after partially deadlocked jury found him guilty on a single count.
Cops, FBI Investigating Unattended Death At Concord Hospital Parking Garage: The search for a stop-and-hold subject, possibly armed, in the West End leads to a body found inside a car in a Langley Parkway garage.
Boy Found Dead In Lake; Hot Rods Torched During House Fire; New Movies; More: PM Patch NH: NH man faces VT bank robbery charge; pols battle during Dobbs anniversary; cops say woman chased man through park in SUV; AG sues TikTok.
Wrong-Way Driver On 293 In Manchester Causes Serious Head-On Crash: Firefighters worked to extricate one of the victims with serious injuries. A large debris field closed the highway Saturday morning.
Funnel Cloud Reported In Manchester As NH Under Tornado Watch: The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for several communities.
Lightning Strikes House, Funnel Spotted During T-Storms, Tornado Watches: PM Patch NH: Also: Gun threat in city garage; indictments; wrestlers compete; wrong-way driver crash; report says fire chief violated town policies.
Crashes At Tollbooth; Corpse Abuse Arrests; Motorcyclist Stopped; More: Nearby News NH: Also: Fatal house fire; biker flees crash; homeless sex offender, convicted 7 times, arrested again; fugitive alert; political notes; more.
Computer Glitch Temporarily Closes Liquor Stores; Ruggles Mine Reopens; More: PM Patch NH: Also: Libertarian Party VP stumps in NH; Patch, news partners win awards; crashes; D’Allesandro podcast; a castle in the clouds, for sale.
Concord Police Investigating Gun Threat Incident At Durgin Block Garage On School Street: Security footage and witness testimony assist officers in arresting at least one man on Friday night in Downtown Concord.

Here are some other posts readers may have missed:

Someone Is Stealing Kias And Hyundais In Concord; Police Seek Tips

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New Hampshire

New Hampshire Teacher Drove Pregnant Student to Get an Abortion

Published

9 hours ago

June 29, 2024

Press Room

New Hampshire Teacher Drove Pregnant Student to Get an Abortion

The teacher is currently working as a teacher and plans to teach this summer, according to the complaint.

A private school teacher in New Hampshire faked an illness so she could drive a student to get an abortion without the knowledge of the student’s parents.

The student was at least 18 years old at the time and therefore under state law did not need the permission of her parents, the teacher says in a lawsuit filed this week seeking to get back her teaching license, which she says the state revoked earlier this month.

The pregnant student didn’t want to tell her parents and didn’t have a ride to the abortion facility, and the abortion could be performed only on a Friday, which was a school day, the teacher says in the complaint.

So the teacher faked food poisoning in order to leave school and drive the student to get the abortion, according to a redacted report by the New Hampshire Department of Education published by The Boston Globe.

The teacher, identified in court papers as Jane Doe, says that she did not try to persuade the student, identified in court papers as Student A, to have an abortion, which she says occurred during the fall of 2023.

“It was very important to Doe that she provided Student A with access to information and resources to make an informed decision but did not influence Student A’s decision. Doe wanted Student A to be empowered to make an informed decision about her own health care and expressed to Student A that she would do what she could to support her irrespective of her decision,” the teacher’s lawyers wrote in the complaint, filed Monday, June 24, in Merrimack County Superior Court in Concord, the state capital.

The school fired her the following week after school officials learned what happened.

The teacher says state education officials investigated and asked her to give up her teaching credentials but never held a hearing before she was informed on June 17 that her teaching credential had been revoked.

In addition, the teacher says the state’s education commissioner, Frank Edelblut, a Republican, published an article in April referring to her that she describes as misleading.

“How should the department respond,” Edelblut wrote in the article, before describing several instances of what he considered poor behavior by educators, including: “… when, allegedly, an educator lies by calling in sick so they can take a student — without parental knowledge — to get an abortion.”

The teacher’s complaint argues that Edelblut’s article implies that she “helped a minor circumvent New Hampshire’s parental notification law,” even though, she says, Edelblut “knew that Student A was an adult months before Edelblut made the statement.”

A spokesman for the state Department of Education contacted by CNA on Friday referred questions to a spokesman for the New Hampshire attorney general’s office.

“We will review the complaint and respond as appropriate in due course. We would not comment on an open agency matter or pending litigation,” a spokesman for the attorney general’s office told CNA on Friday.

The teacher is currently working as a teacher and plans to teach this summer, according to the complaint.

The state’s education agency has scheduled a pre-hearing conference concerning her teaching credential for July 16, according to the teacher’s complaint.

The Boston Globe reported Thursday that the teacher’s teaching credentials have been restored while the case is pending.

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New Hampshire

7 Towns In New Hampshire With The Best Downtown Areas In 2024

Published

16 hours ago

June 29, 2024

Press Room

7 Towns In New Hampshire With The Best Downtown Areas In 2024

You may know New Hampshire for its stunning New England foliage, the White Mountains, its ‘Live Free or Die’ motto, or its delicious seafood. But how well do you know the state’s small towns? New Hampshire is packed with welcoming historic and artsy communities with vibrant downtown areas offering a little something for everyone. Take a self-guided tour, relax in leafy parks, and gorge on clams by the waterfront. These downtown areas represent the best of the state.

Keene

The Bandstand in Central Square, Keene, New Hampshire. Editorial credit: Andy Sutherland / Shutterstock.com.

Located in the lush Connecticut River Valley, Keene isn’t just surrounded by natural beauty, it’s also one of the prettiest towns in New Hampshire. Established in 1753, this former railroad town has seen a lot of history – and you can too in its beautifully restored brick mill buildings dotted around town. Stop into the Historical Society of Cheshire County to view exhibits from Keene’s fascinating past and/or join a guided tour of the town’s historic sights.

If you’re exploring solo, don’t miss Keene Central Square in the heart of the historical district. This downtown park features a charming gazebo, fountain, and Keene’s Civil War monument. It’s the ideal spot to take a breather from souvenir-hunting. Just off Main Street, you’ll find another historic gem, the Wyman Tavern. This opened in 1762 as a public house and is now a museum, as well as the venue for the popular Wyman Tavern Brew Fest, which takes place in August 2024.

Exeter

New Hampshire’s Revolutionary War Capital, Exeter, is a charming river town in the southeast of the state. Abraham Lincoln once gave a speech here, visiting Exeter in 1860. The town’s picturesque Main Street winds east towards the Squamscott River, which you can explore up close from the beautiful Robert H Stewart Waterfront Park and the Swasey Parkway, a scenic walkway that hosts concerts and other events through the summer and fall. The Swasey Pavilion (known as ‘the bandstand’ to locals) marks the core of Exeter’s walkable historic district. From here, it’s just a short stroll to the American Independence Museum, the Gilman Garrison House, built in 1709, and the Exeter Historical Society, founded in 1928.

Plymouth

Known as the gateway to the lakes region and the White Mountains, Plymouth is a popular destination for nature lovers and sports enthusiasts. It’s also home to Plymouth State University, giving it a lively, college-town feel. Main Street runs along the Pemigewasset River. Plymouth’s beautiful historic district consists of several 1800s civic buildings clustered around the scenic Town Common; these include the town hall, the post office, the Pemigewasset National Bank building, and the old Grafton County Courthouse. For more modern entertainment, visit the Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center on Main Street. This iconic venue hosts concerts, comedy shows, movies, and more.

North Conway

North Conway, in the Mount Washington Valley, is a scenic mountain town with a reputation for great skiing. Known as North Conway Village, the vibrant downtown area is lined with quaint shops, quirky boutiques, and welcoming watering holes. Stop at the Handcrafters Barn for some genuine made-in-New-England gifts or satisfy your sweet tooth at the old-fashioned candy counter in Zeb’s General Store. Downtown is also where you’ll find the North Conway Scenic Railroad. In operation for over 50 years, this rail route is one of the town’s top attractions. If you have time, the 4.5-hour scenic Mountaineer excursion is well worth the trip, with gorgeous alpine views of forested peaks and rocky gorges.

Wolfeboro

Wolfeboro, on the eastern shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, claims the title of ‘America’s oldest summer resort’. It’s easy to see why this New Hampshire gem has been a favorite of visitors down the decades. The waterfront area is a busy hive of activity with boutiques, galleries, cafes, and dining spots – all with a view of the water. The best scenery is in Cate Park, just a block away from the main drag and with plenty of perfect picnic spots overlooking the lake and marina. After watching the boats go by, learn about their history. The New Hampshire Boat Museum traces Wolfeboro’s maritime history through the ages with exhibits on boats of all kinds, from rafts to racers. If all that strolling and sightseeing has made you hungry, grab a bite at the Wolfeboro Dockside Grille. Located right on the water, this classic diner serves up drool-worthy seafood platters. Leave room for dessert – the restaurant also contains a dairy bar offering your choice of ice-cream sundaes.

Meredith

The small town of Meredith is in the heart of New Hampshire lake country and central to some of the state’s biggest lakes, including Winnipesaukee, Squam, and Winnisquam. Meredith got its start in the early 1800s as a prosperous mill town and is now known as a family-oriented community perfect for a relaxing summer break. Check out the Waukewan Town Beach for stunning views over Lake Winnipesaukee or hire a boat at Meredith Marina to spend the day on the water fishing. Back in town, stop by the Hermit Woods Winery & Eatery, a small boutique winery in the heart of downtown. Featured in USA Today, this foodie favorite crafts its wine from local fruits, pairing it with a delicious farm-to-table menu. You’ll find other great dining at the Mills Falls Marketplace, a waterfront boardwalk and open-air shopping venue featuring flower gardens, a 40 ft waterfall, and a sculpture walk.

Harrisville

Historic Harrisville is a beautiful little mill town in southwest New Hampshire. This charming storybook village, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977, is a history-lover’s dream. Its small downtown, curved around Harrisville Pond, is extremely easy to navigate and a pleasant stroll past red brick mill homes and stunning examples of Greek Revival architecture. Highlights include the Harrisville General Store, which has been in operation since 1838 and is now a grocery store and cafe. The Cheshire Mills complex, built in the 1840s and consisting of a granite mill and a cluster of workers’ cottages, is also well worth a visit. After all that walking, pick up a snack at a different sort of town landmark — the Brown House Bakery. Serving customers for almost two decades, this popular eatery is where locals go to satisfy their cravings for freshly made muffins, donuts, biscuits, sandwiches, and more.

Dynamic Downtowns

Visit New Hampshire’s fascinating and scenic small towns and you’ll be walking in the footsteps of revolutionary war heroes, founding fathers, and past presidents. The granite state has had a front row seat for the many turbulent eras of American history and that rich heritage is evident today in the historic streets and lively atmosphere of New Hampshire’s picturesque communities. Well-preserved, well-maintained, and well-loved, these dynamic downtowns are the perfect venue for your next vacation.

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