Name: N.H. Electric Co-op Members Vote To Add High-Speed Internet Access To Bylaws
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N.H. Electric Co-op Members Vote To Add High-Speed Internet Access To Bylaws

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Members of the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative have voted by a wide margin to add rural broadband service to the utility’s mission. The vote was 88 percent in favor of adding to the Co-op’s bylaws, alongside electric service. An earlier campaign to do this fell just short of passing. The change could help the Co-op receive public funding for broadband projects, or partner with other companies to provide high-speed internet service to members. Co-op officials say in a that they’re well positioned to do this for internet, just as they did for electricity in rural New Hampshire decades ago. The COVID-19 pandemic brought the need for high-speed internet into focus, according to the statement from the not-for-profit electric utility, which has headquarters in Plymouth. A 2019 report found that more than 100 other rural electric co-ops have expanded into broadband nationwide. New Hampshire Broadband Advocates, a grassroots group, praised the vote. "This is the second time in four months that Co-op members have told the board and management in no uncertain terms that they want and expect the member-owned utility to help fill the region's painful broadband gap," Richard Knox, chair of the group, said in a statement. Tags:&nbsp;The New Hampshire Electric Cooperative will propose amendments to the organization’s bylaws that would enable the organization to pursue broadband projects.&nbsp; In an announcement on Thursday, the co-op said it’s already started to look at ways it can expand broadband internet for its members, but it was clear that the current bylaws weren’t flexible enough to take advantage of government funding for broadband expansion. Earlier this year, co-op members narrowly missed passing a proposal that would have added facilitating broadband access as a focus of the organization.At a press conference Thursday, Governor Chris Sununu announced that $16 million of federal CARES Act money will go towards rural broadband projects throughout the state. Sununu announced that the towns of Bristol, Danbury, Deering, Errol, Hillsborough, Mason, Springfield, Stoddard and Washington received nearly $6.5 million dollars to improve connectivity for about 3,000 properties.Many people in New Hampshire are used to slow internet, but with COVID-19, what was a challenge has become a crisis with more people needing to access their doctor's offices, classrooms&nbsp;and workplaces online.&nbsp; With new funds available from the state for broadband projects, there’s some hope that the Internet situation might finally improve for rural Granite Staters. Listen Listening... 4:45 Listen to the broadcast version of this story.

Members of the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative have voted by a wide margin to add rural broadband service to the utility’s mission. The vote was 88 percent in favor of adding to the Co-op’s bylaws, alongside electric service. An earlier campaign to do this fell just short of passing. The change could help the Co-op receive public funding for broadband projects, or partner with other companies to provide high-speed internet service to members. Co-op officials say in a that they’re well positioned to do this for internet, just as they did for electricity in rural New Hampshire decades ago....

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N.H. Electric Co-op Members Vote To Add High-Speed Internet Access To Bylaws

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