NH Delegation Welcomes Nearly $12 Million Federal Grant to Build and Improve Broadband Infrastructure in Grafton County
Today the New Hampshire delegation announced that $11,969,000 in bipartisan infrastructure law funding was awarded to Grafton County to develop a 222-mile fiber optic cable that will provide surrounding communities with faster and dependable high-speed internet. This project will provide the infrastructure needed to support future growth and expansion of Grafton County’s broadband needs with minimal additional investment. The delegation supported the bipartisan infrastructure law.
“Access to high-speed internet is essential for our businesses to compete and Granite Staters to thrive,” said Congressman Pappas. “I fought to pass the bipartisan infrastructure law to expand broadband to rural communities in New Hampshire, close our state’s digital equity gap, boost our local economies, and improve quality of life, and I look forward to seeing the benefits of this investment come to fruition.”
“Providing the resources to connect unserved and underserved communities to reliable, high-speed internet is one of the best investments we can make to secure future growth in our state,” said Senator Shaheen, a key negotiator of the bipartisan infrastructure law. “I’m proud to welcome this $12 million federal grant to build-out over two hundred miles of fiber optic cable that will help deliver faster internet service to Granite Staters in Grafton County.”
“With nearly $12 million in funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law, this grant is going to make a tremendous difference in connecting every corner of Grafton County to affordable and reliable high-speed internet,” Senator Hassan said. “For years, Granite Staters have pushed to expand high-speed access to every family and community, and with the bipartisan infrastructure law we are now making that a reality.”
“This investment from the bipartisan infrastructure law is a game-changer for New Hampshire. These federal funds will help towns and communities throughout Grafton County connect homes, hospitals, schools, and more directly to high-speed internet and make future technology upgrades less expensive and more effective,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “I was proud to help secure this grant for our state and look forward to seeing how local leaders will use these funds to build a brighter future for all.”
This project was funded through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program, a $1 billion program that provides funding for the construction, improvement or acquisition of middle mile infrastructure. The purpose of the grant program is to expand and extend middle mile infrastructure to reduce the cost of connecting areas that are unserved or underserved to the internet backbone. The program was created and funded by the bipartisan infrastructure law.
The delegation supported the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the bipartisan infrastructure law), which provides a $550 billion investment in our nation’s core infrastructure priorities – including roads and bridges, rail, transit, ports, airports, the electric grid, water systems and broadband.