NHEC Broadband Access to affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet is critical to NHEC members and the vitality of the communities we serve. But many NHEC members do not have access to this essential service because of where they live. NHEC is committed to ensuring that all Co-op members have access to broadband Internet, regardless of where they live. INTERESTED IN RECEIVING BROADBAND SERVICE? CLICK HERE What’s the latest? NHEC is pursuing funding opportunities and planning further expansion into unserved parts of our service territory in 2021. Stay tuned to this page for updates! It will likely take several years to make broadband Internet service available to all members, but we’re looking forward to bringing this essential service to members and are working as quickly as possible to make it happen. Broadband Q&A Why is NHEC working to provide members with broadband Internet service? The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus the critical need for high speed Internet service throughout New Hampshire. For far too long rural communities have been disadvantaged due to the lack of high speed Internet. As virtual business activity, remote learning, and telemedicine have become the norm, the limited, often unreliable, services available in these communities today do not meet the needs of NHEC members. Electric cooperatives, like NHEC, played an essential role in bringing electricity to rural areas in the late 1930s. The same need exists now with high speed Internet access. Today, NHEC provides electric distribution service to 85,000 members, located in 115 towns across New Hampshire. Our service territory extends as far south as Derry, and as far north as Pittsburg. Just as it brought electricity to rural New Hampshire over 80 years ago, NHEC is uniquely positioned to help bring high speed Internet to these same areas today. Over 100 electric cooperatives across the country now offer broadband services to their members. NHEC is committed to ensuring our members have access to this essential service. What is NHEC doing to expand broadband access to its members? NHEC is actively working with strategic partners to identify local, state, and federal funding opportunities and evaluate different pathways to provide service. In December 2020, NHEC connected its first 900 members to broadband Internet in parts of Lempster, Colebrook, Clarksville and Stewartstown. This initial project was funded primarily by a grant from the Connecting New Hampshire Emergency Broadband Expansion Program. These projects are the first steps towards a larger goal of ensuring all NHEC members have access to high speed Internet. Will these efforts to expand broadband increase the price I pay for electricity? The financial well-being of the cooperative and the affordability of our electric service remains our top priority. NHEC’s Board of Directors is evaluating different approaches to provide broadband service to all members to maximize the benefits and minimize potential costs. Members who take broadband service will pay for it, and over time offering broadband has the potential to reduce the cost of electricity service by creating new sources of non-electric revenues and potential cost savings. How much does broadband service cost? Current pricing for members served in NHEC’s pilot project area: $89.95 (1 Gbps upload/download) $49.95 (25 mbps upload/download) Prices are subject to change going forward. How long will it take before every NHEC member has access to broadband? It could take several years to achieve our goal, but we are aware of our members’ immediate needs and will be working as quickly as possible to build out our fiber network. Will these efforts impact my electric service? No. NHEC members will continue to receive the same high level of electricity service. In fact, having high speed Internet available throughout NHEC’s service territory has the potential to help us respond to outages faster and more widely provide additional electricity services, like demand response programs. When can I sign up for broadband service? NHEC, or its partnering organizations, will reach out directly to members in areas when service becomes available. To express your interest in receiving service, please fill out the form here. We will also continue to post updates on this website. Why can’t another company provide broadband services? Unlike for-profit telecommunications companies, NHEC is a member-owned, non-profit cooperative. We are governed by the democratic process and we are singularly focused on meeting our members’ needs. We believe that the cooperative model allows us to provide services to our members when others will not, because we are not limited by the requirement to generate profits for investors. This makes NHEC well suited to bring high speed Internet service to unserved areas of rural New Hampshire. What type of Internet service is NHEC considering offering to its members? Specific service offerings will be developed, but for its pilot projects, NHEC constructed an all fiber optic network, that offers speeds up to 1 Gigabit symmetrical upload and download. NHEC’s goal is to build a network capable of meeting our members’ needs into the future. I have a question not answered above, who can I contact? Email us at broadband@nhec.com. News & Events October 20th at 10 am, NHEC held a virtual Member Meeting to announce the results of the Special Election bylaw amendments vote. The meeting was recorded. Listen to Recording Voting Opens on Proposed NHEC Bylaw Amendments by NHEC | Sep 15, 2020 | Broadband, UncategorizedPLYMOUTH, NH – Ballots are mailing today to members of New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC), who will decide if the company’s bylaws should be amended to make it easier for NHEC to provide access to broadband internet for its members. Members have the option of... Talking Broadband: Podcast Explores the NH Digital Divide by NHEC | Sep 14, 2020 | Broadband, UncategorizedNHEC President/CEO Steve Camerino makes the case for high speed internet access and details the Co-op's plans in THIS PODCAST produced September 9, 2020 and hosted by the New Hampshire Business Review. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN NHEC President: Broadband Is the Next Essential Service by NHEC | Sep 9, 2020 | Broadband, UncategorizedThis opinion piece was written by NHEC President/CEO Steve Camerino and appeared in several New Hampshire publications. When the COVID-19 pandemic took hold earlier this year, it closed schools and businesses and forced many New Hampshire residents to work from home... NHEC to Hold Member Vote to Further Broadband Efforts by NHEC | Aug 13, 2020 | Broadband, UncategorizedPLYMOUTH, NH (August 13, 2020) – New Hampshire Electric Cooperative’s (NHEC) Board of Directors has voted unanimously to propose amendments to the organization’s bylaws. These proposed changes would provide NHEC with additional flexibility as it explores various... NHEC Applies for State Funding to Expand Broadband to Members by NHEC | Jul 8, 2020 | Broadband, UncategorizedPLYMOUTH, NH (July 8, 2020) – New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) announced today that it has applied to the State of New Hampshire for funding to expand high speed internet access to its members in Colebrook and Lempster. NHEC is seeking funding for the two... « Older Entries Next Entries » Contact NHEC Broadband (866) 431-1928 Customer Service (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, EST) or broadband-info@nhec.com (866) 431-7617 Technical Support ( 24 hours) or broadband-technicalsupport@nhec.com
Voting Opens on Proposed NHEC Bylaw Amendments by NHEC | Sep 15, 2020 | Broadband, UncategorizedPLYMOUTH, NH – Ballots are mailing today to members of New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC), who will decide if the company’s bylaws should be amended to make it easier for NHEC to provide access to broadband internet for its members. Members have the option of...
Talking Broadband: Podcast Explores the NH Digital Divide by NHEC | Sep 14, 2020 | Broadband, UncategorizedNHEC President/CEO Steve Camerino makes the case for high speed internet access and details the Co-op's plans in THIS PODCAST produced September 9, 2020 and hosted by the New Hampshire Business Review. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
NHEC President: Broadband Is the Next Essential Service by NHEC | Sep 9, 2020 | Broadband, UncategorizedThis opinion piece was written by NHEC President/CEO Steve Camerino and appeared in several New Hampshire publications. When the COVID-19 pandemic took hold earlier this year, it closed schools and businesses and forced many New Hampshire residents to work from home...
NHEC to Hold Member Vote to Further Broadband Efforts by NHEC | Aug 13, 2020 | Broadband, UncategorizedPLYMOUTH, NH (August 13, 2020) – New Hampshire Electric Cooperative’s (NHEC) Board of Directors has voted unanimously to propose amendments to the organization’s bylaws. These proposed changes would provide NHEC with additional flexibility as it explores various...
NHEC Applies for State Funding to Expand Broadband to Members by NHEC | Jul 8, 2020 | Broadband, UncategorizedPLYMOUTH, NH (July 8, 2020) – New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) announced today that it has applied to the State of New Hampshire for funding to expand high speed internet access to its members in Colebrook and Lempster. NHEC is seeking funding for the two...