Nhec members: We need your vote one more time!

[Sue Doe-Nym]

We are far from convinced that NHEC is the proper entity to be doing broadband. According to an interesting article in N.H. Town and City magazine, September/
October, it specifically mentions Carroll County broadband, which has received a $250k USDA grant to study broadband for all 19 towns comprising Carroll County. Nowhere in this article is NHEC mentioned as a provider of this service. At this point, we feel that this project should be done on a county-wide basis, and lean toward a NO vote unless we can be persuaded otherwise.
https://issuu.com/N.H. municipal association/docs/town city sepoct20 72
Tried to do the link, but I am not a techie so sorry.

[longislander]

https://www.nhmunicipal.org/town-cit...important-ever

[Lakegeezer]

Originally Posted by Sue Doe-Nym

We are far from convinced that NHEC is the proper entity to be doing broadband. According to an interesting article in N.H. Town and City magazine, September/
October, it specifically mentions Carroll County broadband, which has received a $250k USDA grant to study broadband for all 19 towns comprising Carroll County. Nowhere in this article is NHEC mentioned as a provider of this service. At this point, we feel that this project should be done on a county-wide basis, and lean toward a NO vote unless we can be persuaded otherwise.
.

The Carroll County Broadband Committee hasn't met for a while, so doesn't have a position on the NHEC vote at this time. Being on the committee, I've asked that a meeting be held to consider one. It wasn't an option during the study, so that is why you don't see it mentioned.

Having a fiber backbone for third parties to tap into would sure help the CCBC research to date. There are many small companies that want to sell to the consumer, stringing fiber from the pole to homes, providing customer premises equipment and support. But, can they scale and give us longevity? Those are real concerns. Building a backbone to tap into is expensive and getting permission to use existing poles is slow. If NHEC will do the build-out, it could be a sea-change in what is available.

It would be a shame if the cost to connect everyone in Carroll County would be millions higher because people voted to tell NHEC to forget about it. It could be the difference between hundreds having high-speed internet this decade or not. There aren't many (any?) choices to pick from in some of the rural areas, so why cut this one off from consideration?

What is the fear? Higher electric rates? Poor service? More downtime than with DSL? Who do you think is going to invest in hundreds of miles of fiber if NHEC doesn't? Do you expect the phone company or the cable company to step up and expand into low density areas? Do you care that many people in the rural parts of every town and especially in Sandwich, Tamworth, Madison, Eaton, Ossipee and Brookfield can't get high-speed internet?

I'm passionate about this because I'm a lightning rod for those that can't get good internet today. Students and people that are able to work from home are limited in what they can do. They are driving to the library parking lot to attend zoom meetings, required to keep their job. When their kids are attending on-line classes, everyone else in the house has to stay off the internet. It is a quality of life issue and we have an opportunity to help.

I hope that we, the NHEC customers in the Lakes Region, cast our ballots to allow the board to move forward. Let's give them a chance to come up with a solid proposal and then shoot at it if it doesn't make sense.

[Twags]

I strongly agree with Lakegeezer. We cannot just think about what might work for one town or one county. There are far too many towns in NH that don’t have fast, affordable, reliable internet. Without decent internet, these towns will be left behind in the 21st century. Citizens will not have access to healthcare, jobs, and education opportunities that are increasingly available only to those have broadband. As this presentation from NHEC director Leo Dwyer makes very clear, broadband access for rural communities today is as essential as rural electrification was in the 1930’s. https://youtu.be/58_0-9oGVJs

From all the research that I and others have done, NHEC is uniquely positioned to offer an internet solution that works for all.

[longislander]

https://sandwichclimate.com/people-p...ops-attention/

[Sue Doe-Nym]

Originally Posted by Lakegeezer

The Carroll County Broadband Committee hasn't met for a while, so doesn't have a position on the NHEC vote at this time. Being on the committee, I've asked that a meeting be held to consider one. It wasn't an option during the study, so that is why you don't see it mentioned.

Having a fiber backbone for third parties to tap into would sure help the CCBC research to date. There are many small companies that want to sell to the consumer, stringing fiber from the pole to homes, providing customer premises equipment and support. But, can they scale and give us longevity? Those are real concerns. Building a backbone to tap into is expensive and getting permission to use existing poles is slow. If NHEC will do the build-out, it could be a sea-change in what is available.

It would be a shame if the cost to connect everyone in Carroll County would be millions higher because people voted to tell NHEC to forget about it. It could be the difference between hundreds having high-speed internet this decade or not. There aren't many (any?) choices to pick from in some of the rural areas, so why cut this one off from consideration?

What is the fear? Higher electric rates? Poor service? More downtime than with DSL? Who do you think is going to invest in hundreds of miles of fiber if NHEC doesn't? Do you expect the phone company or the cable company to step up and expand into low density areas? Do you care that many people in the rural parts of every town and especially in Sandwich, Tamworth, Madison, Eaton, Ossipee and Brookfield can't get high-speed internet?

I'm passionate about this because I'm a lightning rod for those that can't get good internet today. Students and people that are able to work from home are limited in what they can do. They are driving to the library parking lot to attend zoom meetings, required to keep their job. When their kids are attending on-line classes, everyone else in the house has to stay off the internet. It is a quality of life issue and we have an opportunity to help.

I hope that we, the NHEC customers in the Lakes Region, cast our ballots to allow the board to move forward. Let's give them a chance to come up with a solid proposal and then shoot at it if it doesn't make sense.

You make very compelling and persuasive points well worth considering. However, as suggested in your final paragraph, a YES vote is not for a specific proposal, but gives them permission to do what they want...and by then it’s too late to shoot holes in their decisions. Correct me if that’s a wrong assumption .

[Twags]

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the great advantage of having NHEC do this is that it is a consumer coop. We own it. If we don’t like the direction they take, we vote in new directors. I’ve been impressed with how responsive they are to their customers/owners. Their decision to get into the broadband business was a direct result of consumer advocacy. Bottom line, I trust their management to do what’s right for consumers. I cannot say that about most for profit cable and phone companies.

[Twags]

Here’s some additional information on NHEC’s broadband plans from a recent article in the Concord Monitor: https://www.concordmonitor.com/New-H...et-nh-36285414

[JEEPONLY]

Is this thread about the Articles X and XII ballot?

Pardon my ignorance- I just want to know if it (the ballot)/they (the articles) are about increased internet for those outlying areas that struggle for connection.

[longislander]

Not Ignorance ... perceptive.

https://www.nhec.com/wp-content/uplo...nt-V.3_WEB.pdf

page 1 ... short version of bold type on page 3 & 4

Hopefully, Elon Musk will not contact for Starlink.

https://www.starlink.com/

Could be a popcorn company.

[First Mate]

Twags, you said: "The Co-op aims to expand broadband to all its members who currently lack it." emphasis mine

Is there not an intention here for NHEC to make its broadband available to ALL members? This will certainly have an influence on my vote. I can understand focusing first on underserved areas, but we ALL need reliable and cost effective service. I have service now--but it is not cheap, not reliable and there's no incentive for providers to improve.

[Sue Doe-Nym]

We received a call from NHEC a short while ago, allowing a connection to an open board meeting to discuss broadband. Sad to say, after a few minutes, we were cut off, and the person who answered our call didn’t seem to know anything about the meeting or how to reconnect us. Very disappointing as we wanted to listen in on their plans. After this, we question whether they are up to handling broadband.

[Lakegeezer]

This message comes from Rick Hiland, the co-chair of the Carroll County Broadband Committee. Thanks to Sue-Doe-Nym for pointing out the opportunity for the committee to take a stand.

Carroll County Broadband Committee encourages all members of the New Hampshire Electric Co-Op to vote in support of the proposed amendment to the Co-op’s bylaws to provide the flexibility needed to quickly and efficiently take advantage of opportunities to ensure all members have access to affordable, reliable, high speed internet. The Committee continues to supports all efforts to bring high speed internet access to all residents and businesses in Carroll County and rural New Hampshire.

Here is the NHEC info page regarding the bylaw change and how to VOTE “Yes”:
https://www.nhec.com/broadband/

[longislander]

Of course, Rick Hilland would support any help to get broadband into Albany. Just as much as Sandwich is supporting.

https://www.conwaydailysun.com/news/...1ca1fcffd.html

https://www.tamworthnh.org/sites/g/f...08-26-2019.pdf


The Carroll County Broadband Committee doesn't appear to be too active.
https://www.carrollcountynh.net/cc-broadband

Some gains by state statutes to allow towns to facilitate working together for bonds etc. for broadband.

[Outdoorsman]

My voting ballot came in the mail this week.

I guess my issue is this...

Amend Article XII, to remove, "on a nonprofit basis" concerning organizations to which NHEC may become a member or hold an ownership interest; (end line)

As a "member", I pay $29.32 per month to belong to the COOP. I then pay high premiums for the electricity that they provide.

They are now asking "members" to foot the bill so that they can create a FOR PROFIT segment to the company (read: provide internet service to outlaying areas of NH)?

I do get the OP's plight here and I want to cry every time someone uses this as a reason for grabbing money. "There are Billions in Federal funding", but guess what.... that means I am paying for it X2!

I am a NO!