CASE STUDY: New Hampshire’s BEAD Planning Document Assistance
Insights > Case Study Supporting New Hampshire’s BEAD Planning When the State of New Hampshire set out to prepare the planning documents required for the federal BEAD program, they partnered with Mission Broadband, ProInfoNet’s broadband consulting team, to navigate the complex process and ensure a strong submission. Learn More ABOUT THE CUSTOMER The New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) is the state agency responsible for driving economic development and broadband expansion efforts across New Hampshire. REGION New Hampshire COMPANY SIZE State Government INDUSTRY Public Sector Broadband KEY SERVICES Broadband Consulting KEY TEAM MEMBERS Jim Rogers Jason Gay Mark Van Loan In a nutshell 1 The Challenge New Hampshire needed an experienced broadband consulting partner to help develop the required BEAD planning documents, including the Five-Year Action Plan, Initial Proposals, and Final Proposal. The state faced complex requirements, shifting federal guidance, and a need for coordinated input from local stakeholders. 2 The Solution Mission Broadband, ProInfoNet’s broadband consulting team, worked alongside state leaders to create a detailed work plan, analyze GIS mapping data, and document a transparent challenge process for providers and eligible entities. When NTIA issued new BEAD restructuring policy guidance, Mission Broadband helped New Hampshire update its plan to stay compliant and ensure on-time submission. 3 The Outcome The State of New Hampshire successfully completed and submitted all BEAD planning documents, which are now pending final NTIA approval. The comprehensive planning process provided a clear roadmap for broadband expansion and positioned the state to move forward confidently into program implementation. Challenges Solutions Meeting Tight Deadlines The State of New Hampshire faced tight submission deadlines for the BEAD program. Mission Broadband helped develop a structured work plan to organize tasks, milestones, and communication cadence so the project could progress efficiently from the start. Understanding NTIA Requirements The BEAD planning process involved a large number of technical and procedural requirements. Mission Broadband worked closely with BEA to interpret these guidelines, ensuring that each document reflected accurate data, addressed funding history, and met federal expectations. Adapting to a Changing regulatory Landscape As NTIA released the new BEAD Restructuring Policy Guidance, the state needed to revise portions of its plan to remain compliant. Mission Broadband supported this process by updating documentation and coordinating revisions to keep all submissions aligned with the latest requirements. Coordinating Stakeholder Engagement Developing the BEAD plans required meaningful input from service providers, community leaders, and residents. Mission Broadband worked alongside the state to facilitate outreach and gather feedback from stakeholders across New Hampshire. Solutions Results Work Plan Development Mission Broadband worked closely with BEA to develop a detailed work plan that defined project goals and timelines. This structure created clear expectations and kept the process moving efficiently from start to finish. Comprehensive Data Analysis To ensure each plan reflected accurate information, Mission Broadband analyzed state and federal broadband data, including GIS mapping and prior funding allocations. This analysis provided the foundation for identifying unserved and underserved locations. Challenge Process Documentation Mission Broadband helped the state document their challenge process, ensuring it met NTIA requirements and provided a structured path for service providers and eligible entities to submit feedback during the BEAD planning phase. Streamlined Collaboration and Documentation A dedicated SharePoint environment was created to manage document storage, version control, and real-time collaboration. This centralized system simplified review cycles and ensured that all project materials were consistent and accessible to team members. Results Work With Us Comprehensive Planning Completed The State of New Hampshire successfully completed and submitted its Five-Year Action Plan, Initial Proposals, and Final Proposal. Each document met NTIA standards and reflected a unified, data-driven strategy for broadband expansion. Accurate & Actionable Broadband Data Through detailed mapping and data validation, the state gained a clear understanding of service gaps and investment priorities, laying the groundwork for future broadband deployment. Prepared for Program Implementation With BEAD planning now finalized and pending NTIA approval, New Hampshire is positioned to launch its next phase: distributing funds and delivering reliable broadband access to communities statewide. Read More Coverage on This Project Interested in launching a similar broadband project? Talk to Us
CASE STUDY: Rhode Island’s First Municipally Owned Network
Insights > Case Study Rhode Island’s FirstMunicipally Owned Network When the Town of New Shoreham set out to deliver reliable, high-speed internet to every household and business on Block Island, they turned to ProInfoNet’s broadband consulting arm, Mission Broadband. Together, we designed and implemented a comprehensive Fiber-to-the-Premise (FTTP) network, supported by a high-speed fiber optic backbone that now spans the entire island. Learn More ABOUT THE CUSTOMER The Town of New Shoreham, located on Block Island, Rhode Island, is the smallest municipality in the state by population but home to one of its most ambitious infrastructure projects. In 2016, town leaders began working to improve digital access for community anchor institutions. Their vision and leadership ultimately led to the creation of BroadbandBI, Rhode Island’s first municipally owned fiber-to-the-home network, which now connects more than 1,800 properties to the highest internet speeds available in the state. REGION Block Island, RI COMPANY SIZE Small Municipality INDUSTRY Public Sector Broadband KEY SERVICES Broadband Consulting Network Infrastructure Project Management KEY TEAM MEMBERS Jim Rogers Jason Gay In a nutshell 1 The Challenge It started with a healthcare clinic on Block Island facing risk of closure. New federal EMR requirements exposed the island’s lack of reliable internet, and the clinic didn’t have the bandwidth to comply. ProInfoNet, through NETC, had already been supporting the clinic through the Healthcare Connect Fund and stepped in to help. The challenge was much bigger than one facility, though. Block Island’s community, New Shoreham, lacked the broadband infrastructure needed to support daily life—from business operations and healthcare access to education and emergency response. 2 The Solution After working with the clinic to secure reliable internet connectivity, ProInfoNet was asked to do the same for other anchor institutions. The Town of New Shoreham partnered with ProInfoNet’s broadband consulting team, Mission Broadband, to launch a pilot program that used undersea fiber from the Block Island Wind Farm to build a publicly owned privately managed network. 3 The Outcome The result was BroadbandBI, Rhode Island’s first municipally owned Fiber-to-the-Home network. Today, it connects all 1,800 properties on the island, delivering high-speed internet and VOIP phone services to residents, businesses, and public facilities. Background The Town of New Shoreham’s push to improve island connectivity began quietly—with a single healthcare clinic at risk of shutting down. For years, ProInfoNet, through the New England Telehealth Consortium (NETC), had supported the clinic through the Healthcare Connect Fund, helping it secure federal subsidies for basic internet service. But when a new federal mandate required the clinic to adopt electronic medical records (EMRs), its limited internet access posed a serious challenge. At the time, residents of Block Island had to load Netflix movies 24 hours in advance if they wanted to stream them; EMRs weren’t going to be able to run on those internet speeds. Worried they would have to close, the clinic approached ProInfoNet to see what could be done. Our team stepped in to negotiate a solution that would keep the clinic connected and open. Seeing the results, the Town of New Shoreham asked if we could do the same for the island’s other anchor institutions. That request led to a pilot program using undersea fiber from the Block Island Wind Farm to connect community anchor institutions like the school, library, and public safety complex. What began as a targeted effort to support a single healthcare site ultimately evolved into something much bigger: BroadbandBI, Rhode Island’s first municipally owned network, which now brings high-speed internet not just to anchor institutions but to every resident and business on the island. Reach Out to Learn More Challenges Solutions Lack of Reliable Infrastructure Before the project began, internet on Block Island was unreliable and, in many areas, virtually nonexistent. With download speeds of 3 Mbps or less, many residents relied on costly satellite plans, dial-up connections, or mobile hotspots—solutions that couldn’t keep up with the increasingly digital world. Geographic Isolation As an offshore community, the island faced unique barriers to broadband expansion. There were few ISPs to choose from, construction costs were higher, and the existing undersea link to the mainland had yet to be leveraged to support high-speed connections at scale. Connectivity for Critical Institutions From telehealth to education to running a business, the lack of broadband was limiting what life on the island could look like. As New Shoreham Finance Director Amy Lewis Land put it, “Not having reliable, fast residential and business service was a constraint on what people could do on the island and made it less viable as a year-round community.” Funding and Community Buy-In Delivering a network that could serve the entire island required substantial funding and community buy-in. Public trust, clear communications, and strong vendor partnerships would be critical moving forward. Solutions Results Laying the Groundwork When the Town of New Shoreham began exploring how to expand broadband access, they turned to ProInfoNet’s broadband consulting team, Mission Broadband, in early 2018. The team conducted feasibility studies, explored subsidy opportunities through federal programs, and presented network design and funding strategies to the FCC and USAC. This foundational work paved the way for a phased buildout, starting with key community anchor institutions and expanding to full island coverage. A Transparent, Phased Approach Public engagement remained a priority throughout the project. Surveys, public forums, and regular updates kept residents informed while helping shape the final design. The Town of New Shoreham selected Sertex Broadband to construct and operate the network, while Crocker Communications was chosen to provide internet and phone services. Mission Broadband served as the project manager and ongoing advisor, overseeing design, construction, and vendor coordination every step of the way. A Network Built to Last With 53 miles of fiber optic cable and 62 miles of underground drops, the BroadbandBI network was designed to be both reliable and scalable. The subsea fiber connection to the mainland offers high-speed, symmetrical internet access, with the capacity to support even faster speeds in the future. Our Multi-Phased Approach To guide the Town of New Shoreham from feasibility through