New Hampshire
Reduced federal funds to boost broadband in New Hampshire – Valley News
Despite some angst that the Trump Administration might vaporize the money, funds are coming to New Hampshire to expand broadband internet access throughout the state, although the amount isn’t what was originally allocated.
The recently announced funding is $18.6 million, significantly less than the original $196.5 million.
The news was, nevertheless, greeted with bipartisan enthusiasm.
“New Hampshire is proud to be No. 1 in the nation for internet connectivity, and this new federal funding we have secured will help us reach our goal of delivering reliable broadband access to everyone in our state,” Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte said in a statement.
“Having worked on the broadband provisions in the bipartisan infrastructure law, I know how important internet connectivity is for small businesses to grow and compete, for students to learn and thrive and for those in remote areas to access health care,” said Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.
The broadband funding is $18.6 million. It comes from the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program (BEAD), part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, bipartisan legislation passed and enacted during the President Joe Biden administration.
Originally, the state was slated to get $196.5 million from BEAD for 9,527 locations across the state, especially in rural areas where access to broadband internet can be difficult because of distance, terrain and lack of infrastructure.
With the arrival of Donald Trump in the White House, given his disdain for the Infrastructure Act, he signed an executive order that paused a disbursement of all funds related to the bill, pending a review by his new administration.
Subsequent policy changes from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, worried the state’s Democratic congressional delegation that the changes could derail the disbursement of the state’s $191 million in BEAD funds.
“The administration has now removed discretion from state and local communities, instead requiring that BEAD funds be allocated solely to the lowest-cost projects — even if those projects deliver extremely low-quality internet service to rural areas. This change is especially harmful to rural Granite Staters, who may now be limited to slow, weather-dependent internet,” the delegation wrote in August to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.
And, indeed, the changes meant that the $191 million originally slated for the Granite State had been trimmed to the newly announced $18.6 million, reducing the new broadband locations from 9,527 to 5,250.
The Trump Administration saw the policy changes as a means to distribute the money in a more cost-effective manner. That was recognized by the administration with the completion of the state’s application process for the funds.
“Congratulations to New Hampshire for getting their BEAD Final Proposal over the finish line,” said U.S. Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth. “The state’s commitment to cutting excessive costs and technology diversity resulted in a strong deployment plan that will achieve universal connectivity across the Granite State.” Roth’s statement was provided by the governor’s office.
The state’s approved plan accelerates the timeline for implementation, with the hope that the state will be fully broadband wired by the end of next year.
The state’s proposal for upgrades includes a mix of coax, fiber, and satellite connections provided by Comcast, Consolidated Communications, New Hampshire Electric Co-op, and SpaceX.
Contracts for the work still have to be approved by the governor’s Executive Council.
Congressional Democrats at least seem happy that they got what they could get. And everyone seems to be putting a happy face on the news of the reduced funding.
“Everyone deserves access to high-speed, reliable internet no matter where they live,” said U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan. “I worked with my colleagues to negotiate and pass the bipartisan infrastructure law to help expand access to reliable internet, and am glad to see our state one step closer to ensuring that everyone has access to broadband. I will continue to push for federal funding that supports Granite state families and small businesses and ensures that communities across our state, including in rural areas, can grow and thrive.”
“Under the bipartisan infrastructure law, Congress worked together to approve critical investments that are making our communities safer, stronger, and more prosperous. Access to high-speed internet is a necessity for every city and town, and it helps businesses compete, ensures students can learn, and allows patients to see a provider. This funding should never have been threatened or delayed, and I’m relieved that it will soon be delivered to New Hampshire,” said 1st District U.S. Rep. Christopher Pappas. “I will continue working to secure resources that modernize our infrastructure and improve Granite Staters’ quality of life.”
“Access to reliable, high-speed internet is not a luxury. It is a lifeline and economic driver for hardworking families, small businesses, farmers, and rural communities across our state,” said 2nd District U.S. Rep. Maggie Goodlander. “I look forward to seeing these federal dollars put to work quickly and effectively to deliver for New Hampshire.”
Ayotte pointed to a recent report that shows New Hampshire is the No. 1 internet connected state in the country.
Reviews.org used census data and reported in October that 95.37% of all households in the Granite State are connected to the internet.
“Expanding broadband will help keep our communities safe, grow our economy, improve access to health care in our rural communities, and more. I thank the Department of Commerce for helping us continue to get more Granite Staters connected,” Ayotte said in her statement.
The state’s broadband application process and oversight are the work of the state Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA).
“This investment is critical in reaching the last mile in bringing high-speed service to rural towns, which will support small businesses, enable remote work, and increase access to educational opportunities, healthcare, and other facets of our quality of life,” said Matthew Conserva, program manager of the BEA Office of Broadband Initiatives.
These articles are being shared by partners in The Granite State News Collaborative. For more information visit collaborativenh.org.
New Hampshire
N.H. lawmakers to vote on increasing tolls, civil rights, and k-12 education – The Boston Globe
One proposal (Senate Bill 627) would generate more than $53 million per year in estimated revenue for turnpike projects by essentially doubling what certain cars pay on the state’s toll roads.
The cash fare for Hampton’s main toll booth on Interstate 95, for example, would jump from $2 to $4 for cars and pickup trucks. The toll wouldn’t increase at all for motorists who use New Hampshire’s E-ZPass transponders.
“Surrounding states already have the same in-state discount structure in place,” Democratic Representative Martin Jack of Nashua wrote on behalf of a House committee that unanimously recommended the bill.
A potential hitch: Governor Kelly Ayotte. She’s expressed opposition to the whole toll-hiking idea, and proven she’s not afraid to use her veto pen.
Modifying civil rights standard
Another proposal (Senate Bill 464) would add a few words to the state’s Civil Rights Act. Instead of addressing conduct that is merely “motivated by” a legally protected characteristic, the proposed revision would address conduct that is “substantially motivated by hostility towards the victim’s” protected characteristic (such as their race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, or disability).
The prime sponsor, Republican Senator Daryl Abbas, an attorney, testified the change was small and aligned with the law’s intent. But the attorney who oversees the Civil Rights Unit at the New Hampshire Department of Justice, Sean Locke, testified in opposition, saying the proposal could reduce protections, especially since the meaning of “substantially” is somewhat vague.
The House is also weighing a proposed amendment that would add a few more words than Abbas’s version, potentially narrowing the Civil Rights Act’s applicability a bit further.
Open enrollment for K-12 schools
A third proposal up for a vote on Thursday (Senate Bill 101) would make every K-12 public school in New Hampshire an “open enrollment” school. That way, students could freely choose to transfer to a district other than the one where they live.
The proposed policy is controversial, partly because of how schools are funded. Districts rely mostly on local property taxes to cover their costs, as the state government chips in relatively little, and property tax rates vary widely from one community to the next. That generates concern about who will foot the bill when a student transfers.
In light of those concerns, Republicans are offering a compromise amendment to SB 101 that would require the state to provide more money per pupil that a district receives via open enrollment, as the New Hampshire Bulletin reported. Democrats are offering their own amendment to establish a study commission on this topic, rather than adopt the proposed policy now.
Lawmakers have until May 14 to take action on the bills that came from the other chamber, though they have until June 4 to iron out any discrepancies.
Amanda Gokee of the Globe staff contributed to this report.
This story appears in Globe NH | Morning Report, a free email newsletter focused on New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles elsewhere. Sign up here.
Steven Porter can be reached at steven.porter@globe.com. Follow him @reporterporter.
New Hampshire
Boston MedFlight expands into NH
Boston MedFlight often touches down at the scene of some of the worst tragedies in New England – where minutes can mean life or death for a victim. The critical care transport operation is now expanding with a new base in New Hampshire.
The organization is hosting an open house at the new Manchester location on Thursday.
Boston MedFlight flies a critical care transport paramedic and nurse on every flight. Jaik Hanley-McCarthy says their helicopters and ground vehicles are equipped to handle just about any emergency medical procedure.
“Anything that can be done in the ICU,” explained Hanley-McCarthy. “We have a mobile lab so we can draw blood and run labs in real time.”
Boston MedFlight now has five bases across the region.
“Having a base in Manchester just expands this Boston-level care even further north to the more remote areas of the state,” said Hanley-McCarthy.
Boston MedFlight operates as a network of bases and some of the locations are staffed 24 hours.
Chief Executive Officer Maura Hughes says the nonprofit operation survives on public and private donations.
“We provide about $7 million in free care every year to patients,” said Hughes. “Not every hospital can be everything to every patient. We’re really the glue that keeps the health care system together.”
Heather Young says her daughter, Teighan, is still alive because she was flown for a critical assessment and procedure after falling off a truck and hitting her head.
“She should not be driving and walking and talking and all the things she’s doing as quickly as she is,” said Young.
Teighan just turned 18 and plans to go to college to study the medical field.
“I want to be a nurse and help other people,” she said.
It’s stories like this that keep the men and women who work Boston MedFlight focused on their mission.
“I think we just go call by call and try to do the best we can,” said Hanley-McCarthy. “I think when we stop and truly think about it, I think that weight is pretty heavy.”
Boston MedFlight also has a yearly reunion where patients and the team get together here in Bedford to meet and check in on their progress. It really shows you how connected they are to the people they help.
New Hampshire
Hiker who set out in warm spring weather found dead after snowstorm in New Hampshire mountains
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A Massachusetts hiker who set out in warm spring weather was found dead deep in New Hampshire’s White Mountains after a snowstorm dumped several inches of snow in the area, authorities said.
Kent Wood, 61, of West Roxbury, was discovered Tuesday evening on a remote section of the Kinsman Pond Trail in Franconia Notch, about 5.5 miles from his vehicle, according to New Hampshire Fish and Game.
Wood had driven to Franconia Notch on April 17 for a weekend camping and hiking trip, and set out on a hike the next morning in warm, clear weather, officials said. Family and friends last heard from him Saturday afternoon.
When he failed to return or make contact for two days, officials said relatives reported him missing Tuesday morning, prompting a large-scale search.
HIKER IDENTIFIED, POPULAR TRAIL CLOSED AFTER DEADLY FALL A UTAH’S ZION NATIONAL PARK
An aerial view of Franconia Notch State Park in New Hampshire, where a hiker was found dead on Tuesday. (Joseph Sohm/Universal Images Group, File)
Rescuers quickly learned Wood had packed for mild conditions, not the three to five inches of snow that fell in the area between Sunday and Monday.
Fog hovers over a narrow road through Franconia Notch in the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire on Dec. 27, 2021. (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis)
Search teams from Fish and Game, PEMI Valley Search and Rescue, and the Army National Guard launched a coordinated effort, focusing on the Lonesome Lake and Kinsman Pond areas.
FAMILY’S SPRING BREAK HIKE TURNS INTO LIFE-OR-DEATH RESCUE AFTER PARENT FALLS 70 FEET OFF UTAH CLIFF
Conservation officers located Wood’s body around 7:41 p.m. Tuesday. Crews carried him out overnight, reaching the trailhead shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday.
Franconia Notch and the Appalachian Trail are seen in New Hampshire on Sept. 21. (Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images)
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Since Friday, six hikers from Massachusetts have been rescued in the White Mountains, Fish and Game said.
Officials are reminding hikers that winter conditions still grip the mountains, with snow, freezing temperatures and rapidly changing weather.
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