Senator Hassan Leads Delegation In Announcing New Federal Funds to Deliver High-Speed Internet

In case you missed it, Senator Maggie Hassan led Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Congresswoman Annie Kuster, and Congressman Chris Pappas in announcing that New Hampshire will receive $50 million in federal funds to help bring high-speed internet access to our rural communities. The federal funds were made possible by the Capital Projects Fund that Senator Hassan spearheaded as a part of the American Rescue Plan signed into law by President Joe Biden. New Hampshire is one of the first four states in the country to receive this funding, and the estimated 15,000 households and small businesses receiving this funding represent approximately 50 percent of New Hampshire locations still lacking high-speed internet access. Key Excerpts:

• Federal officials say $50 million is headed to New Hampshire to be used to bring high-speed internet to rural communities in the Granite State.

• The funding comes through the Capital Projects Fund, and is estimated to serve 15,000 homes and businesses -- representing approximately 50% of locations in New Hampshire still lacking high-speed internet.

• The announcement marks the first of four states that the Treasury Department approved for funding.

• All service providers will participate in the Federal Communications Commission’s new Affordable Connectivity Program, which helps ensure households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more by providing a discount of up to $30 per month.

• “Access to high-speed internet is a necessity,” said U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan in a statement. “From running a business or managing finances to attending telemedicine appointments, people rely on internet connectivity every day. Unfortunately, many rural areas in New Hampshire still don’t have reliable internet connections. That is why I worked to set up and secure this funding in the American Rescue Plan, so that every person has the opportunity to succeed and so that our state’s economy can thrive.”

• The funding is from the Capital Projects Fund, which Sens. Hassan, Mark Warner (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) helped create as part of the American Rescue Plan.

• In total, New Hampshire is set to receive over $222 million through the Capital Projects Fund and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Read the full story from the Union Leader here.