Broadband service coming to more towns, boosting New Hampshire's economy

About $115 million in federal funds will spread broadband internet to rural areas around New Hampshire in the coming years, improving people's lives and boosting the state's economy. "By the time we get done with these resources (in late 2026), we do expect to have a very significant portion of the unserved and underserved locations in the state up to speed and online," Taylor Caswell, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs. Caswell participated in an announcement of $50 million in federal funding to the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative. The money will be used to connect about 23,000 homes and businesses in more than 70 communities, including Franklin, Littleton, Plymouth, Wolfeboro, Colebrook and Pittsburg. Locations receiving broadband will be "able to compete for workforce and population and people to move to their communities to help them revitalize those communities and to help fuel the next generation of downtown businesses or small businesses or participate or work remotely (as is) increasingly the case," Caswell said. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) helped secure funding for the project from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) passed by Congress.