Release of the Northern NH Telecommunications Master Plan
March 4, 2005

The Northern NH Telecommunications Plan will be presented to the public on Wednesday, March 9 at 5:00PM at the North Country Health Consortium, Littleton Learning Center, 646 Union Street, Littleton, NH. Speakers will include Executive Councilor Ray Burton; Representative Martha McLeod, Executive Director, North Country Health Consortium; Melissa Ogle, Office of Senator Sununu; Bill Williams, Office of Congressman Charles Bass; and Steve McKenzie, Regional Field Representative, USDA Rural Utility Service.

Economic development, education and business leaders from northern New Hampshire identified in 2004 the need for a "plan" that would address access to affordable high speed broadband for all communities and businesses in the region. 10 months later an advisory council of over 20 regional economic and community development practitioners, guided by rural telecommunication expert Dr. Andrew Cohill, have produced a telecommunications master plan that provides the framework for building out a regional system. The group will use the plan to fund and implement a web of infrastructure projects serving as many communities as possible in the region, and to implement and enhance telecommunications education and training services in support of regional community and economic development. This is the first regional telecommunications plan developed for the state of New Hampshire.

Copies of the Master Plan will be available.

For additional information, contact Nancy DuBosque Berliner, Executive Director, NH Rural Development Council, (603) 229-0261.