2,000+ Homes, Businesses Get Broadband Access In Coos, NEK

Representatives from Fidium Fiber announced on Thursday that more than 2,000 combined homes and businesses

Representatives from Fidium Fiber announced on Thursday that more than 2,000 combined homes and businesses in Northumberland, Stark, and Stratford and across the river in Maidstone now have access to multi-gig Internet speeds.

Fidium, owned by Consolidated Communications, has a contract with New Hampshire to build high-speed broadband in unserved and underserved areas across the state. Construction began earlier in the spring throughout the region.

“Fiber build-out in the Town of Northumberland is a fundamental economic driver,” Robin Irving, Coos County Broadband Committee representative for Northumberland, said in a statement.

“Over the past decade, while Northumberland experienced slow systemic recovery from the loss of its anchor business, Groveton Village benefited from the fiber backbone along the corridor, positively impacting hub services and businesses,” she said. “With sheltering in place for COVID-19, however, education, business, and homes became reliant on affordable and reliable fiber service beyond the trunk. Fiber to the premise addresses this reliance and equitably expands connectivity and opportunity for market segmentation to all areas of Northumberland. The Town of Northumberland welcomes Fidium Fiber’s expansion and anticipates that the new fiber options will promote creativity, diversity, and growth throughout the North Country.”

Crystal Pelletier, a Stark Select Board member, said, “The Town of Stark is excited to be included in Fidium Fiber’s expansion.”

“We have a small population that is spread out over a large geographic area,” she said. “That combination makes it difficult for us to find reliable high-speed internet options, much less one that is affordable! The internet has become so much a necessity of daily life, that the inclusion of fiber lines to our community will have a significant and positive impact.”

To date, more than 260,000 homes and businesses in New Hampshire and 110,000 in Vermont have access to Fidium, including in Littleton, N.H, and Barton, Vt, with additional availability coming soon to Bethlehem, Whitefield, Wolcott, and more area communities, said Fidium/Consolidated representatives.

Residents and businesses can learn more and get updates about service availability at FidiumFiber.com.

“In expanding fiber access, we are proud to help build the future in the Northumberland area,” said Jeff McIver, senior manager of government relations for Consolidated Communications. “Fiber brings tremendous benefits and transforms how we connect to one another, increasing access to educational, economic, healthcare and entertainment opportunities and options. We are excited to bring the benefits of Fidium Fiber these and more communities across New Hampshire and northern New England.”

Fidium plans offer speeds from 100 Mbps to 2 Gigs (2000 Mbps). Fidium also offers VoIP phone service plans, and features speeds that allow customers to stream their preferred TV and entertainment.

Fidium representatives will be soon be visiting the community to share more information about service options and availability.