Attention nhec members: Vote for broadband

[Twags]

Thank you to those who signed the petition to include “facilitating broadband” as an addition to the bylaws of New Hampshire Electric Cooperative. We received many more than the required number of signatures, and therefore this question is on the NHEC ballot, which you should receive shortly if you haven’t already.

Now we are asking you to vote for the bylaw change, and for the slate of NHEC board candidates who have pledged to support broadband access: Leo Dwyer, William Darcy, and Marc Portu.

The Covid-19 crisis has underscored the importance of fast, reliable broadband access at a reasonable price; it is necessary for education, work, healthcare, and social connections. As NH recovers from the current economic crisis, broadband access will also be essential for the future of its businesses.

The bylaws change will not raise your electric rates, but will encourage NHEC to make its utility poles available to broadband developers; that is essential to our efforts to provide broadband access to our region. It will also be important for the Coop to back applications for federal funds to help build broadband infrastructure.

Please vote today, and please forward this information to other NHEC members; the broadband proposal needs support from two-thirds of those who vote in order to pass.

For more information, and an informative video, go to https://www.nhbroadband.com/

Over 100 electric cooperatives across the country are already participating in the movement to provide broadband access to residents and businesses in under-served areas like ours, and we need to join that group. With your help, we can have fast, reliable, affordable broadband access in our region, too!

NHEC mailed the paper ballots last Thursday. If you didn't receive it or have already thrown it away, you have
the following options:

1.) Call (800)698-2007 and take Option 5, then Option 0 to speak to a customer service person, who can resend the paper ballot to you.
2.) Go to NHEC.com, log in to your account (it's easy to set up an account if you don't have one) and click on to the 'VOTE NOW' tab at the top of the home page.

If you had elected to receive your ballot electronically a couple of months ago,
you should have received an email on May 21st from NHEC noreply@directvote,net with a direct
link to your personalized ballot. If you didn't receive it then follow the steps above.

You have until June 16th to cast your ballot.

[mishman]

Could not agree more with previous comment. Electing Darcy, Dwyer and Portu will help move the NHEC to help allow much needed broadband competition in our service area. This is an important economic stimulus for our region as we will depend more and more on fast, reliable broadband to do our work from anywhere. Please vote for Darcy, Dwyer and Portu for the future!
For more detailed info on this issue go to NHBroadband.com