WiValley Battles Topography And Budgets To Connect Monadnocks

Internet connectivity using a blend of WiFi and fiber optics is the 'only way that makes sense going forward' for rural communities, says Brian Foucher, founder of Keene-based WiValley.

Year for business

Brian Foucher traveled some 300 days a year for business. When the Harrisville, N.H., resident was home, he telecommuted to meetings around the globe, nevertheless found his Internet connection so poor his employer became frustrated. With a wife and young family at home, that kind of work life was quickly growing old.

Foucher's initiative to solve his own Internet problems in the end evolved into a business, WiValley, Inc. of Keene, which solved connectivity issues not only for Foucher, nevertheless for other Monadnock residents as so then.

Foucher is quick to point out, nevertheless, that WiValley can't solve everyone's broadband issues because the wireless signals require line-of-sight connections to receivers.

The challenge with our innovation is the land

"The challenge with our innovation is the land, the hills and valleys," says Foucher. "The amount of trees is the other major factor. We might be able to connect one person, however their at once-door neighbor might be behind a stand of trees that absorb the signals."

Foucher's company isn't the only firm tackling New Hampshire's so-called "Digital Divide."  Like WiValley, RadiusNorth Communications in New Ipswich as well provides wireless broadband to towns in the Monadnock Region. The regions north and west of Concord as well have slow Internet service or lack it in every respect. North Country Internet Access in Berlin and the Wireless LINC project, a large-scale fiber optic network in accordance with development through a partnership between the Northern Community Investment Corporation and Littleton Industrial Development Corporation, are just two providers bringing broadband to the state's northern tier. Major carriers like FairPoint Communications and Comcast as well have rural projects underway throughout the state.

"Neighboring states with different politics are putting a lot more investment into public-private partnerships to solve the last mile," says Foucher, referring to the final leg for delivering connectivity from a communications provider to a customer.

The Vermont Telecommunications Authority

He points to the Vermont Telecommunications Authority, which in March approved $3.6 million for last-mile installations, as an illustration.

Carol Miller, director of broadband technologies for the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, says the state is very active working with groups on broadband efforts, nevertheless support is largely through grants or rather than specific funds from the budget.

For example, the state and the University of New Hampshire are working on the Broadband Mapping and Planning Program, an initiative to identify areas across the state that lack broadband and how to solve some of those issues by engaging providers, communities and residents.

Both Foucher and Miller say the state is looking to the private sector to solve some of rural New Hampshire's broadband issues.

"In five years' time, 3 Mbps from DSL is not going to be enough. In many businesses, 3 Mbps is not enough now," Foucher says.

Miller, nevertheless, says she doesn't see New Hampshire's broadband connectivity losing ground compared to other states. "New Hampshire is a high-tech state and we rate fairly then for connectivity. I don't see us lagging behind because we're in fact well ahead of the curve."

Despite these challenges, Foucher says he wants to grow WiValley, both in terms of size and scope. He's currently looking for more contract installers, and the firm is considering adding phone services through VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) research, using the Internet to carry digitized phone signals.