|
|
|
|
 Preshow Return to index of stories... |
Next on New Hampshire Outlook tonight.Jeanne Shaheen for US Senate? A committee explores her options. It's technology tonight. We'll look at how the absence of broadband access is affecting the economy of northern New Hampshire. AND we'll meet the man who is literally giving computers away. |
| Headlines Return to index of stories... |
Good Evening. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Intro Shaheen Return to index of stories... |
Governor Jeanne Shaheen is taking aim at Bob Smith's senate seat. The governor filed papers with the U.S. Senate establishing a Shaheen for Senate Exploratory Committee. The governor says she filed ,so she may carefully consider whether to become a candidate. Today a statement from the Governor was made available by phone. |
| Smith Reaction Return to index of stories... |
Reaction from Senator Bob Smith's office tonight. A spokesperson says the Senator welcomes the governor to the race. And adds that Smith believes the race will highlight the stark differences between them - namely - views on keeping taxes low for New Hampshire families. Congressman John Sununu has said he is considering challenging Smith for the G-O-P nomination. |
| Hollingworth Gov Return to index of stories... |
Soon after Governor Jeanne Shaheen took a step toward a possible run for the U.S. Senate, Hampton Democrat Beverly Hollingworth filed papers establishing an exploratory committee for a possible run for governor. Hollingworth said she waited to file until after Shaheen made her move. Other Democrats considering a run for governor are state Senator Mark Fernald and former Executive Councilor James Normand. On the republican side, Cabletron co-founder Craig Benson, former University system board chair Bruce Keough and former U-S Senator Gordon Humphrey are lining up for the nomination. |
| Intro Broadband Return to index of stories... |
Advancements in technology have transformed and expanded the economy in the state of New Hampshire. According to Governor Shaheen's Economic Development Plan released in April of this year, NH has the second-highest concentration of high tech workers in the nation, ranks second nationally in the percentage of households with Internet access and has the 10th largest number of companies doing business on the Internet. But, the technologies that provide the southern tier with the opportunity for economic growth, have not penetrated the more rural areas of our state. Correspondent Theresa Kennett takes a look at how the absence of broadband access is affecting the economy of northern New Hampshire. |
| Broadband Return to index of stories... |
Most urban areas of our state have fast, reliable, and affordable access to the Internet. However, rural areas have few, if any, affordable options to meet their high bandwidth needs, making services such as interactive purchasing, telemedicine and two-way teleconferencing unattainable. Go to George at 2:12 - 2:42. Well within this building we have 70 people and in our other offices 25, 15, or 6 people who are all tied together and who essentially have to go out through the same wire. And that wire has to have the capacity to carry all the information that all of those people want to send out and the information they want to capture back in and it takes a bigger broader band in order to carry all that information. George Epstein is the cofounder and Chairman of the Board for the Echo Group, with headquarters in Conway. His company provides software to healthcare and social service agencies located in every state throughout the country. Echo's ability to provide a quality product in a timely fashion is entirely dependent on telecommunications and the fastest, least expensive telecommunications make a tremendous difference. Stand Up - outside of Echo Prior to May of this year, Vitts Networks was providing broadband access not only to Echo, but to many north country businesses at rates that were comparable to what customers were paying in the southern part of the state. Although the cost of providing service to the rural north was significantly higher because of the distance between customers, Vitts strategy was to absorb losses in order to capture market share. And they did just that. However, their losses were so overwhelming, it put them out of business leaving companies like Echo scrambling to find a provider. Go to George at 3:57 - 4:27 We attacked the market pretty quickly, tracked folks down and wound up looking with the bigger providers and ultimately worked out a deal with sprint that incorporated our long distance telephone services as well as our t-one lines and frame relay lines. And as a result we were able to put together a big enough package so that we got a reasonable discount and we were able to make that conversion. Jump Cut to 4:39- 4:50 and while we have a very large increase, the overall pain and suffering was something we were able to absorb. While geography, demographics, and economics combine to make much of the north- country a less desirable target for telecommunications providers, the pooling or aggregating of consumer demand can create attractive new markets. Peter Riviere is the Director for the Coos County Economic Counsel and the driving force behind North Country Connect, an aggregation initiative designed to attract a provider who will supply broadband services at an affordable, consistent rate to all users within the network region. Go to Peter at 1:20:32 - 1:21:00 When we aggregate we are asking people to simply tell us what their telephone and data usage is in billing. We are building a market base and saying to providers, there is money up here, you can profit. North Country Connect is currently negotiating a contract with Global Crossings, the world's fourth largest telecom provider, to build the backbone network that will connect north-country businesses to broadband services. Global Crossings recently signed a contract with the Monadnock region and is moving into the Portsmouth area as well. Go to Peter at 1:23:16 - 1:23:31 So they would have basically a horse shoe and lack only the golden triangle of Concord, Manchester, Nashua, Salem area. That's a nice chunk of change in a months billing and it's a chunk that no one else wants to go after. North Country Connects aggregation effort has been on-going since February and over 225 companies have been surveyed. However, the billings are not high enough to guarantee service to the more remote towns in the state, begging the question of a possible government subsidy that would help cover capital costs. Go to George Epstein at 10:15 - 11:01 One of the reasons that America is the most dominant economy is because we have spent the money from the 1700's to today to build that infrastructure and I think that the Internet is part of that infrastructure that the economy needs to succeed, and it needs to be available throughout the country and certainly throughout New Hampshire. Our legislatures don't get it, some of the folks that are very supportive of the tech village in Mt. Washington Valley, and some of the Congressional delegation that spoke glowingly about it are the same people who shrug their shoulders and say government has no role in broadband access. But the state's Department of Resources and Economic Development did finance the aggregation initiative in the Monadnock Region and in the North Country to the tune of $250,000. To that Epstein says…. Go to George Epstein at 12:08 - 12:33 Too little, to late. Look at Colorado and South Carolina. Look at Virginia. The primary thing that Virginia did was to say that State of Virginia will not buy services from any telecommunications vendor unless the same prices that the state gets are available throughout the state and rural areas. They simply used their buying power. Go to Peter at 01:36:36 - 01:37:07 If they would have started with themselves and said we're going to aggregate the state as some of the states are doing, Georgia and Arizona are both doing this. They would have attracted a provider in a heartbeat because they represent so much in the way of billings. And they represent everyplace there is a sweepstakes ticket to be sold, everyplace there is a bottle of booze to be sold, they represent every town office where you get your license plates renewed. Jump Cut to 01:37:19 We are having a devil of a time convincing them to use their agencies aggregations in our accumulation. Go to George Bald at 1:20:13 - 01:20:18 What you want is the same service that Nashua has at the same price. Despite the hesitation to aggregate the state's billings to ensure connectivity to the more rural towns in the north country, the Commissioner of DRED, George Bald, assured citizens concerned with economic development in Colebrook that the state would be part of their solution. Go to Colebrook meeting, George Bald, at 1:18:01 - 1:18:20 If the aggregation of bringing everybody together and saying this is the amount of usage isn't enough to have a company provide that service than we're going to have to do something to subsidize, if you will, the difference. Go to Fred King at 01:28:32 - 01:28:38 This part of the world can't wait any longer for that type of the service. Former State Senator and longtime resident of Colebrook, Fred King, was concerned that even with a government subsidy, Colebrook might have to wait longer than the less remote communities in the north country. 01:29:40 - 01:29:55 So I'm suggesting to you that when this day comes that they find out where we are going that the State be prepared with your support to pay the bill to make broadband available to Colebrook as well as to Hanover and the rest of the world. Go to George Bald at 01:42:48 - 01:43:03 I think that it's crucial that if its going to happen in the north country that it happen as quickly as possible everywhere. If were going to do it in Littleton and Conway that Colebrook get it as well. Go to Fred King at 01:40:19 - 01:40:37 I think its time for us to make this an issue because of the concern over the paper mills and now the sale of the lands in Pittsburg are bringing the poor economy of the north country to the top. We get a headline in the paper everyday and none of its good news. Go to George Epstein at 12:34 - 12:51 New Hampshire is way behind on this and is not taking the responsibilities to see that our communities up here have a running shot at the economic development that is occurring in the southern part of the state and in every urban area of the country. Go to George Bald at 1:47:35 - The state has made an effort and its been redoubled by the Governor's economic plan where she is saying, listen the north and the western part of the state need a lot of attention so let's get going on this thing. Once the contract with Global Crossings is signed, it will take approximately six months to build the network that will bring broadband services to most areas of the north country at rate that is 50 to 75% less than those currently being charged. From Conway, Theresa Kennett for NH Outlook. |
| Tag broadband Return to index of stories... |
North Country Connect will continue to aggregate billings for companies that have not yet responded to the survey. For more information contact North Country Connect at 788-3900 or click on their website at www.northcountryconnect.org. |
| Intro PATT Return to index of stories... |
According to a report by The American Electronics Association, over half of all New Hampshire residents have access to computers and dial-up access to the internet. But for the other forty-five percent of the state, technology seems out of reach. Or is it? Outlook correspondent Ben French introduces us to a company working to bridge the digital divide in New Hampshire by literally giving computers away. |
| Tag PATT Return to index of stories... |
To contact the Public Access to Technology, call 652-4344 or find them on the web at w-w-w -DOT-pattcommunity-dot-org. |
| Business Outlook Return to index of stories... |
It was a choppy session on Wall Street, as investors mulled over the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut and its warning that the economy will not get better anytime soon. |
| Wall Street Stocks Return to index of stories... |
The dow was up over a hundred and two points. The New York Stock Exchange rose three- point seven. And the Nasdaq ended the day up over twenty-eight points. |
| NH Stocks Return to index of stories... |
Here's a look at stocks of interest to New Hampshire investors. Autodesk closed up 85 cents. Lockheed was down 65 cents. Oxford Health ended the day up 77 cents. Sybron International closed up +0.96. And shares of Teradyne were up 2 dollars and 15 cents. |
| Interest Rates Return to index of stories... |
Looking to take advantage of the Federal Reserve's latest interest rate cut? With at least one local lender, you won't have to wait. After the federal reserve announced yesterday it would reduce it's rate another quarter percent, Citizen's Financial Group quickly followed suit. Citizen's has lowered it's prime lending rate to six and a half percent at it's banks in New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, effective today. |
| Radiation Follow-up Return to index of stories... |
Here's a follow up to a story we reported yesterday. Three regional hospitals went before the Certificate of Need Board in hopes of getting the go ahead to provide additional treatment for cancer patients. Concord Hospital, Exeter Hospital and Wentworth- Douglass in Dover were denied their requests. A spokesperson at Concord Hospital says they will ask for reconsideration from the board. An Exeter Hospital spokeperson says they're not sure what they're going to do yet, but an appeal is definitely an option. |
| Intro Airmap Return to index of stories... |
New England soon will be reaping the benefits of a new air quality monitoring network that's being touted as one of the best in the country. The AIRMAP System is setting a new standard for studying pollution factors that affect our regional climate. Correspondent Tim Estiloz has the story. |
| AIRMAP Return to index of stories... |
Today New Hampshire was recognized for having one of the most comprehensive air quality monitoring networks in the country. The event took place at Castle in the Clouds, one of 5 monitoring sites in New Hampshire for a project called AIRMAP, the Atmospheric Investigation Regional Modeling Analysis and Prediction program. It is a collaboration among UNH, Plymouth State College, The Mt. Washington Observatory, and NOAA. AIRMAP collects data from rural areas to study the inter-relationships between regional air quality, weather patterns, and climatic phenomenon. |
| Tag AIRMAP Return to index of stories... |
If you'd like to learn more about AIRMAP research projects and findings, log on to its website at www.airmap-dot-unh-dot-edu. |
| Intro Mt. Washington Return to index of stories... |
It was a pretty nice day around the Granite state today. A few minutes ago, we got details on the forecast and a look at what conditions were like on Mt Washington from Charlie LoPresti at the Mount Washington observatory. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That's it for this edition of New Hampshire Outlook. For all of us here at New Hampshire Public Television, thanks for joining us. Stay tuned for NOVA. We'll be back tomorrow at 7:30. Good night. |
| founders Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook: New Hampshire Charitable Foundadtion Public Service of New Hampshire Alice J. Reen Charitable Trust Putnam Foundation Stratford Foundation |
| Lost Wallet Return to index of stories... |
Money plus mail equals bills for most of us, but not for Laconia resident Ken Nutter. The wallet he lost 10 years ago turned up in his mailbox this week- thanks to a very honest stranger. Nutter's wallet was found by a man named Michael St. John, who put it in a safe until Nutter could be located. St. John finally did so, last month. But he must have realized not everyone is so honest. Among the expired credit cards and family photos, Nutter found a money order for the $600 dollars he lost with the wallet. Apparently, St. John didn't want to send cash through the mail |
| key: economy Return to index of stories... |
DATE:8/22/01 TOPIC:Advancements in technology have transformed and expanded the economy in the state of New Hampshire. According to Governor Shaheen's Economic Development Plan released in April of this year, NH has the second-highest concentration of high tech workers in the nation, ranks second nationally in the percentage of households with Internet access and has the 10th largest number of companies doing business on the Internet. But, the technologies that provide the southern tier with the opportunity for economic growth, have not penetrated the more rural areas of our state. Correspondent Theresa Kennett takes a look at how the absence of broadband access is affecting the economy of northern New Hampshire. SEGMENT LENGTH: NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: George Epstein\Chair, Echo Group Theresa Kennett\NH Outlook Peter Riviere\Coos County Economic Council George Bald\Commissioner, DRED Fred King\Former State Senator |
| key: economy Return to index of stories... |
DATE:8/22/01 TOPIC:According to a report by The American Electronics Association, over half of all New Hampshire residents have access to computers and dial-up access to the internet. But for the other forty-five percent of the state, technology seems out of reach. Or is it? Outlook correspondent Ben French introduces us to a company working to bridge the digital divide in New Hampshire by literally giving computers away. SEGMENT LENGTH:8:20 NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Craig Pearson\President, Public Access To Technology Ben French\NH Outlook Mike Harrison\Director, The Enterasys Foundation Ken Franson\Vocational Instructor Scott Voegtlin\Industrial Electronics Vocational Student Jake Cram\Vocational Student Ben Lambert\Vocational School Graduate Jim Martel\Strafford Community Center |
| Kid Friendly Return to index of stories... |
If you live there you may already know this but Manchester is one of the best small cities in the country for raising children. That assessment comes from the national group, Zero Population Growth, that looked at several factors from safety and economics to health and education. Portland, Maine, and Burlington, Vermont, also were in the top ten. |
| tonight 11:30 Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. Bridging the digital divide. Meet the man who is literally giving computers away. Plus the push to bring broadband to the North Country. Here at 11:30 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Tonight 7:30 Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. It's seven-point-six miles and all uphill. We'll have a preview of a bike race up Mount Washington. Join us tonight at 7:30 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| website Return to index of stories... |
For information on tonight's program, and links to our guests and interviews, visit our web site at nhptv.org. You can see and hear streaming video of our broadcasts and participate in our daily poll. If you've got a story idea or comment on our program you can call us at 800-639-2721. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
Tomorrow on New Hampshire Outlook - It's seven-point-six miles and all uphill. We'll have a preview of the annual Mount Washington bicycle hillclimb. |
| Banking Nomination Return to index of stories... |
Governor Jeanne Shaheen announced several she's appointing Peter Hildreth of Concord as the state's next banking commissioner. Hildreth currently serves as director of securities regulation. Shaheen also nominated Manchester lawyer Gary Hicks to the Superior Court. Hicks heads the litigation department for the Wiggin and Nourie law firm. ---------------------------------- AP-NH--Nominations dewst Shaheen nominates judge, commissioners -- Governor Jeanne Shaheen today nominated a new state banking commissioner and Superior Court judge. Shaheen picked Peter Hildreth of Concord, director of securities regulation, for the banking position, replacing the late Roland Roberge. She also nominated Manchester lawyer Gary Hicks to the court. Hicks heads the litigation department at the Wiggin and Nourie law firm. P-U-C Executive Director Thomas Getz of Concord was nominated to be chaiman of the agency, while Susan Geiger of Loudon renominated to another term on the commission. |