Broadband Planning

Digital access and skill have become increasingly important for so many aspects of everyday life, for people of all ages and all circumstances, especially for those who are English learners, elders, persons of color, veterans, disabled, low income, rural inhabitants, and incarcerated populations. NH’s digital equity funding can be used to address digital divide challenges, e.g., relating to access to affordable broadband, computers, digital skills and cyber safety skill development, technical support, multilingual tech support, and more.

Staff

Rachel Dewey

Jen Czysz

New Hampshire's Office of Broadband Initiatives

The Office of Broadband Initiatives at NH BEA is the lead agency in charge of the deployment of upcoming state and federal broadband funding opportunities. SRPC will be working closely with BEA to identify local broadband projects over the next seven years.

Learn more on BEA's website

Future Funding in NH

per year starting in 2025 for implementation of the upcoming NH Digital Equity Plan

$ 5 Million

to build high speed Internet infrastructure through the BEAD program

$ 196.6 Million

Current Initiatives

Progress Towards Digital Equity in NH

The SRPC is working with New Hampshire’s digital equity experts in guiding the development of NH’s plan, and to encourage all who are interested in the region to help shape the plan. Over the next several months, a select team will be seeking public comment on vital elements including identification of digital divide barriers to improve economic and educational opportunity, healthcare access, and civic engagement.

Upcoming Events

You can learn about the many ways to become involved, share your insights and concerns, and help craft New Hampshire’s digital future – at https://www.nhdigitalequity.org/ for many upcoming opportunities – from an online survey and online forums to in-person meetings across the state.

Past Efforts

Broadband Mapping

Beginning in 2010, Strafford Regional Planning Commission (SRPC) staff began working on the New Hampshire Broadband Mapping and Planning Program (NHBMPP). This 5-year initiative allowed each of the nine regional planning commissions to understand where broadband is currently available in New Hampshire, how it can be made more widely available in the future, and how to increase broadband adoption and utilization.

The project was comprised of two primary components: mapping and planning. The planning component resulted in the creation of nine regional broadband plans, one from each regional planning commission. SRPC adopted the Strafford Regional Broadband Plan in January of 2015.

Mapping components, some of which were included in the plans, included a community anchor institutions database, a municipal cable franchise agreement database, and broadband service and availability information.

The information compiled by the nine regional planning commissions was then submitted to the NH Office of Energy and Planning to be consolidated into a comprehensive statewide resource. The result, Broadband 2015: The Connection to New Hampshire’s Future was released in June of 2015. This report provides an overview of findings related to broadband availability, affordability, and adoption in the state. It also provides priority broadband recommendations based on the research performed by each of the RPCs.

SRPC is excited to share this resource with our municipalities, stakeholders, partners, and others in the region and state. To learn more about NHBMPP visit www.iwantbroadbandnh.org.