The Broadband Matching Grants Initiative (BMGI), established by RSA 12-O:61-63, made $25 million available to provide matching grants to internet service providers (ISPs) and municipalities to improve broadband availability across the state. BMGI is funded through the Department of Business and Economic Affairs using the state’s allocation of Capital Projects Fund (CPF).
Guidelines & Eligibility
BMGI is designed to fund broadband infrastructure projects delivering high-speed internet (>100/100 Mbps) to unserved (<25/3 Mbps) and underserved (<100/20 Mbps) locations. BMGI provides a state match of up to 75% of eligible project costs, which is designed to alleviate the fiscal impact of community-driven broadband investment for both ISPs and municipalities and reduce reliance on bonding. ISPs must prove upload speeds of 100/100 Mbps symmetrical upon completion and are encouraged to offer at least one low-cost option at speeds that are sufficient for a household with multiple users (100/20 Mbps).
Application
The application window opened on September 5, 2023 and applications were due by no later than October 20, 2023 at 3pm EST. BEA reviewed and scored the applications, preliminarily approving 12 applications to move to the Challenge Process.
Challenge Process
The BMGI Challenge Process allowed any party to challenge the eligibility of a location that was preliminarily deemed allowable for BMGI funding. A location could be challenged if it was (a) already served with internet speeds above 100/20Mbps or (b) there was already broadband infrastructure construction underway at the proposed BMGI location. Once preliminary acceptance letters were issued to all applicants, BEA posted the 3,965 preliminary approved locations on the webpage. The Challenge Process window opened on Monday, March 4, 2024 and challenges were due no later than Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 3 PM EST. After the Challenge Process and rebuttal phase concluded, there were a total of 3,087 locations eligible for BMGI funding. The Challenge Process was informed by RSA 12-O:62, II(b) and Bea 405.
BMGI Awards
BEA awarded a total of almost $24 million to twelve projects by three ISPs - HUBB 66 Inc., CCI, and Comcast Cable Communications, LLC - under the BMGI program through a competitive application process. These twelve projects were approved by New Hampshire Governor & Executive Council and must be completed by Dec. 31, 2026.
- Through these projects, New Hampshire will connect 3,087 homes and businesses to high-speed internet.
- August 2024, Hubb 66 Inc was awarded $8,410,592.55 to serve 988 unserved or underserved address.
- August 2024, CCI was awarded $11,873,815.00 to serve 1,507 unserved or underserved address.
- October 2024, Comcast was awarded $3,581,664.50 to serve 592 unserved or underserved address.
The twelve specific BMGI projects can be found at the following link BMGI Program Awardees.
CPF Project Progress Dashboard – check the dashboard for quarterly updates of completed project passings.
Resources
Contact Us
Please submit questions via email to broadband@livefree.nh.gov.