KEENE, NH – Consolidated Communications has received $40 million in grants to support plans to build fiber internet services to thousands of homes in six New Hampshire counties.

According to a news release from Consolidated, a leading fiber provider, the New Hampshire Executive Council unanimously approved the grant at their meeting on February 22nd. The funding from the American Rescue Plan will help build fiber to nearly 25,000 underserved homes in Cheshire, Carroll, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, and Sullivan Counties.

Consolidated is also investing its own capital to bring fiber to more than 32,000 additional homes.

Locally, the project will bring service to 3,078 homes in Cheshire County, including 2,367 locations in Winchester, 368 in Alstead, 338 in Richmond, four in Marlow and one in Walpole.

Construction is expected to begin at the end of 2023 and be largely completed by the end of 2024.