New Hampshire Electric Cooperative Broadband Internet

The New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, serving 115 mostly rural towns, is trying again to add delivering broadband internet to its core mission of delivering electricity. A special election has been called on the issue and would change the co-op’s bylaws. Ballots were mailed to the co-op’s 84,000 customers. Voting ends October 14^th. The entry of the co-op into broadband would have a good effect on other internet service providers and could have a positive effect on pricing. The state has been lacking internet access but the surge in working from home and remote schooling has given it a new energy and broadband is clearly a necessary utility in the present environment. The state is targeting $50 million in Federal CARES Act funds to help connect properties that have been unable to get online. The New Hampshire Electric Cooperative is preparing two broadband pilot projects using $6.7 million of that money.