Deborah Reynolds
New Hampshire Senate, District 2
Press Releases
STATE TO DEVELOP NEW BROADBAND ACCESS STRATEGY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, August 10, 2007
Contact: Senator Deborah Reynolds
(603) 271-3569
Friday, August 10, 2007
Contact: Senator Deborah Reynolds
(603) 271-3569
CONCORD -- The Department of Resources and Economic Development is seeking a consultant to help develop a new broadband access strategy for the state.
The department sent out a request for proposals on July 31 and hopes to have a broadband consultant at work by year's end, pending Governor and Council approval. According to the Federal Communications Commission, New Hampshire is last in the nation in the percentage of residential telephone customers who have access to high speed services and lawmakers want to change that.
"Broadband access vastly increases economic development in the states that have been aggressive about deploying and supporting it," said Senator Deborah Reynolds, (D-Plymouth), who recently returned from a national conference that highlighted successful programs in other states.
"It is vital that New Hampshire make this a priority, as all of the states are becoming increasingly competitive regarding their Internet advantage," she said.
The consultant will be asked to create an updated database of existing telecommunications infrastructure along with data on utilization rates. The plan is to gather enough information so recommendations can be made about how to leverage existing services for broader consumer usage and identify areas where additional investments may be required
The goal is to create, with the input of the state's Telecommunications Advisory Board, a strategy for expanding access to high speed Internet services around the state and to identify and pursue any grants or other potential resources to move the plan forward.
"New Hampshire could be eligible for significant federal grants or loans to expand high speed Internet access around our state," Reynolds noted.
The Legislature set aside $20,000 for the consultant, a sum the Division of Economic Development expects to match with its own funds.
The department sent out a request for proposals on July 31 and hopes to have a broadband consultant at work by year's end, pending Governor and Council approval. According to the Federal Communications Commission, New Hampshire is last in the nation in the percentage of residential telephone customers who have access to high speed services and lawmakers want to change that.
"Broadband access vastly increases economic development in the states that have been aggressive about deploying and supporting it," said Senator Deborah Reynolds, (D-Plymouth), who recently returned from a national conference that highlighted successful programs in other states.
"It is vital that New Hampshire make this a priority, as all of the states are becoming increasingly competitive regarding their Internet advantage," she said.
The consultant will be asked to create an updated database of existing telecommunications infrastructure along with data on utilization rates. The plan is to gather enough information so recommendations can be made about how to leverage existing services for broader consumer usage and identify areas where additional investments may be required
The goal is to create, with the input of the state's Telecommunications Advisory Board, a strategy for expanding access to high speed Internet services around the state and to identify and pursue any grants or other potential resources to move the plan forward.
"New Hampshire could be eligible for significant federal grants or loans to expand high speed Internet access around our state," Reynolds noted.
The Legislature set aside $20,000 for the consultant, a sum the Division of Economic Development expects to match with its own funds.
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