NH holds forums for input on statewide high speed Internet access plan

New Hampshire economic development officials are holding a series of open forums, across New Hampshire, to gather information for a “statewide broadband action plan.” The Division of Economic Development, with the regional accounting firm Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker, have planned five forums seeking public input about the telecommunications infrastructure and the need for a statewide high speed Internet action plan.

"We'll be asking who wasn't there that should be there, and how we can reach out to them to get their feedback.  We want to have this process wrapped up within the next month or so, so we can go to whatever follow-up questions there might be. We are working with a sense of urgency here," said Michael Vlacich, Director of the Division of Economic Development.

The forums are free, open to the public, and will last about 2 hours.  Vlacich said “the forums will complement other work toward a broadband action plan, which includes identifying best practices in other states and what's working in New Hampshire.”

Holding forums for public input is a good step – but the “sense of urgency” Vlacich cited should not end there. New Hampshire, just like every other state, needs high speed Internet access to compete on the global market. As the only industrialized nation without high speed Internet policy on the books, we’re already behind the curve.

Internet access to be studied in forums (New Hampshire Union Leader)