Political leaders of the three Northern New England states released a joint statement saying they want all of the tri-state area to have broadband Internet access in order to keep up with the rapidly growing cyberspace business world.
The statement was released by all three state’s leaders of both House and Senate.
New Hampshire House Speaker Terie Norelli and Senate President Sylvia Larsen; Maine House Speaker Glenn Cummings and Senate President Beth Edmonds; Vermont House Speaker Gaye Symington and Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin.
Some of the leaders express concerns and reasons why Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont need this service.
“Extending high-speed Internet service to all parts of the region is critical to our future economic success,” Norelli said
“By working together, we hope to ensure all three states get a telecommunications partner capable of acting promptly to meet the rapidly-evolving needs of our residents, businesses and institutions.”
This announcement comes on the heels of a proposal by Verizon to sell out a good chunk of its service in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont to Fair Point Communications. Leaders are asking that any changes in ownership might consider providing this service.
“I feel this was a very successful collaboration, and we will continue to work together to protect our interests as the telecommunications industry grows and changes,” Larsen said. “I’m encouraged by our ability to work together on this and potentially other issues.
“Our three states have much in common, and there are many other issues of regional concern that offer opportunities for us to work together in the future.”
All the right things are being said and it certainly sounds good except for the fact that nobody is making any concrete suggestions as to how this is going to happen. This is really a geographical nightmare for anyone and an expense that I believe may be cost prohibitive.
It costs money to provide everyone broadband Internet access. It’s the same reason that many folks in this region can’t get cable television. Anything short of subsidized Internet service is a business venture sure to put any company under in a short amount of time.
I can’t imagine the monthly fee that would have to be levied on the people wanting the service. Perhaps some kind of community effort would somehow work.
I am one who realizes that Maine desperately needs better Internet access, including options and competition and I hope somehow they can pull something together to make it work. Issuing statements of how I wish it would happen isn’t going to amount to much. I think it really falls back on the old, tried and true supply and demand.
Tom Remington
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