March 28, 2023 – New Hampshire aims to connect 48,015 homes and businesses to high speed internet as part of a $90 million broadband fiber optic expansion program developed by the Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA).
New Hampshire was one of the first states to receive approval for its broadband expansion program as part of the American Rescue Plan Act’s Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund. The first funding round awarded $50 million to bring high-speed internet to 23,259 addresses. The second-round awarded another $40 million to connect an additional 24,757 addresses.
“These grants represent an historic investment in broadband expansion in the state,” said BEA Commissioner Taylor Caswell. “We have rural communities that have been waiting for decades to upgrade from dial-up or DSL speeds. Once complete, New Hampshire we will be among the most connected states in the nation, allowing our residents and businesses to participate in the digital economy.”
To date:
- Almost 54 miles of fiber have been strung through Campton, Hebron, Holderness, Plymouth and Rumney;
- Preparation for deployment is now complete in Belknap, Carrol, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsboro, Merrimack and Sullivan Counties; work continues in Grafton County;
- Once deployment and testing are completed, in-home installations will begin.
Just this month, BEA’s Office of Broadband Initiatives recently received an award from the New Hampshire Business Review’s annual “Best of Business” awards. The publication noted that the program “best reflects the intent of the legislature and the needs of the state’s underserved broadband population.”
About the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA)
The Department of Business and Economic Affairs is dedicated to enhancing the economic vitality of the State of New Hampshire while promoting it as a destination for domestic and international visitors. For more information, visit
www.nheconomy.com or
www.choosenh.com