Op-Ed: Fiscal Committee Must Pass $40M For Broadband To Unserved Communities

By Op-Ed, InDepth NH

To the New Hampshire legislative Fiscal Committee,

We representatives of the undersigned towns were very troubled to see you tabled an item to accept $40 million in federal funding to build broadband to unserved and underserved areas in our State during your meeting on November 18, 2022. The unserved residents and businesses in our communities have been waiting decades for high-speed internet. The recent pandemic demonstrated the absolute necessity of high-quality affordable broadband to EVERY resident and business in the community.’ Without reliable internet access, children in our community are unable to participate in virtual learning; home-based businesses are unable to participate fully in the digital economy; and residents are unable to perform core functions from home, such as applying for a job online, managing bank accounts and accessing telehealth services.

We understand the issue from the committee’s perspective is a technical question regarding the appropriate funding mechanism. From the towns’ perspective the mechanism for funding broadband expansion is far less important than getting the money out quickly.

If the Committee does not approve the funding at the December 2, 2022 meeting, our state will be left without important broadband funding for an indeterminate amount of time. This CANNOT wait.

A delay means the residents of our towns without reliable internet will miss yet one more build season that could provide us connectivity.

The issue is quite simple, the Federal government has given the State of New Hampshire money to provide reliable affordable internet to those that are unserved. It is the duty of the New Hampshire Fiscal Committee to accept the money now, as a Christmas present to those of us who have been left out all these decades. The work needs to get going.

Town: AlsteadName: Gordon KempRole: Chair of the Broadband Committee

Town: AlsteadName: Matt SaxtonRole: Selectboard Member

Town: ChathamName: Susan LaskinRole: Broadband Representative

Town: ChathamName: Ron BriggsRole: Resident

Town: AlsteadName: Joel McCartyRole: Selectboard Member

Town: ChathamName: Bert WeissRole: Broadband Representative

Town: ChathamName: Patricia PitmanRole: Town Clerk

Town: ChathamName: Riley PitmanRole: Selectman

Town: CroydonName: Dale CunninghamRole: Co-Chair of the Broadband Committee

Town: FreedomName: Melissa FlorioRole: Selectman and Broadband Representative

Town: HancockName: Mollie MillerRole: Chair of the Broadband Committee

Town: OssipeeName: Matt Sawyer JrRole: Town Administrator

Town: ShelburneName: Michael PrangeRole: Energy and Technology Committee

Town: ShelburneName: Don KernanRole: Energy and Technology Committee

Town: ShelburneName: Lucy EvansRole: Selectman

Town: EastonName: Zak MeiRole: Chair of the Selectboard

Town: FreedomName: Linda MailhotRole: Carroll County Communications District Planning Committee

Town: NewburyName: Graham HoffmanRole: Chair of the Broadband Committee

Town: RandolphName: Kathleen KelleyRole: Chair of the Broadband Committee

Town: ShelburneName: Ray DanforthRole: Energy and Technology Committee

Town: ShelburneName: Stanley Judge Role: Chair of the Selectboard

Town: TamworthName: Pat FarleyRole: Chair of the Economic Development Commission and Broadband Committee

Town: WinchesterName: Natalie QuevedoRole: Chair of the Broadband Committee

Town: DaltonName: Jo Beth DudleyRole: Selectboard Chair

Town: DaltonName: Carol SheltryRole: Selectboard

Town: BerlinName: Pamela E LaflammeRole: Director of Strategic InitiativesAssistant City Manager

Town: DaltonName: Tamela SwanRole: SelectboardTown: Franconia

Name: Eric MethRole: Selectboard MemberBroadband Committee Representative

This story was originally published by InDepth NH.