Broadband Internet accessibility is a New Hampshire goal for all residences and businesses. Broadband is defined here as 768 kilobytes per second (kbps) downstream to a computer or similar device and 200 kbps upstream from a computer. Dial-up Internet access is considered insufficient because of capacity and speed.
Minimal broadband coverage is DSL served through telephone lines, but cable fiber optic service is still considered the best over DSL and satellite for its speed and reliability.
If you want to know what your Internet speed is, go to IWantBroadbandNH.org. Once you enter your address, you can see your download and upload speeds. You should have at least 6 Mbps upload and download speeds. Your results are entered into a mapping database compiled at the University of New Hampshire.
Business transactions, streaming videos, video conferencing, home health monitoring of patients, real time traffic conditions, and other uses of broadband internet are now commonplace. Many towns have included broadband in the communications section of their master plans, although Andover has not yet included this section. Some homes and businesses cannot be sold without broadband accessibility and people have filed for tax abatements because of this.
Although Andover has better broadband coverage than some towns (such as Danbury), not all homes have access to fiber optic cable, which is what Comcast has in Andover. Many homes use satellite, but not all can receive satellite transmissions, making the dish a non-option.
Homeowners remaining unserved by cable access have been quoted amounts of $12,000 or more to run the lines to their location because of the low rural density. TDS has been laying fiber optic cable in our service area and has negotiated a franchise agreement with the Andover Board of Selectmen that is similar to our franchise agreement with Comcast. The present extent of TDS fiber optic cable can be viewed at TDSfiber.com/where/Andover and potential customers may receive a special deal if they sign up before the lines are activated in March or April, depending upon location.
Competition is good and may help extend coverage and reduce prices in the future. Rates for bundling current customers once the fiber is activated are at TDStelecom.com/digitaltv. The TDS representative who gave an overview of their service at a February Board of Selectmen’s meeting said that customers may have one TV hooked into their service, and WiFi will allow the homeowner to wirelessly connect all the other TVs in their home at no additional charge.
Broadband Internet access can be expensive. Remember, our Andover libraries have computers, Internet access, and WiFi for your free use, and Priscilla and Gail can cheerfully help you. Comcast, but not TDS, does offer an option to low income families with at least one child enrolled in the school lunch program. I distributed brochures to AE/MS and our Town Administrator.
One catch is you have to be a new customer, but this requirement can be overcome by ending your Comcast Internet service for one month. This Internet cost is $9.95 plus tax per month, the option of buying a computer for $149.99 plus tax, and digital literacy training. See InternetEssentials.com for further details.
Carol Miller, Director of Broadband Technologies at the Department of Resources and Economic Development (carol.miller@nulldred.nh.gov or 271-2341 x138) is a wealth of information and is trying to extend this low income option for older folks.