Speak Out to preserve your Access TV, Local Internet and Telecommunications Needs!

October 07, 2015

Speak out to preserve your Access TV, Local Internet and Telecommunications Needs!

This month launches some great opportunities to exercise your voice around issues of community TV access, a free and open internet, and local control of telecommunications needs and infrastructure. These aren't just issues for Washington anymore, now is the time for you to act on your own community's behalf.

You have one chance to speak out about Comcast's business future in VT. Public Service Board Hearing on 10/21

September 27, 2015

Comcast's contract to provide cable services to Vermont expires in 2016. In order to renew the Certificate of Public Good (CPG) Docket #8301, Comcast must show both the Department of Public Service (DPS) and the Vermont Public Service Board (PSB) that they are meeting community communications needs and providing high quality customer and technical service.

On 10/21 the Vermont Public Service Board wants to know what you think about:

  • Communication needs within your community

  • How those needs are currently being met by PEG groups and Comcast 

  • Ways your communication needs could be better met

  • Additional services through local PEG access channels that you may or may not be currently using

> More Talking Points.

Speak Out for Public Access!

Public Service Board Public Hearing on VIT/Williston on 10/21 from 7 - 9 p.m.

Comments on Docket #8301 via mail should be sent to:

Susan Hudson, Clerk of the Board
Vermont Public Service Board
112 State Street
Montpelier, VT  05620-2701

Comments via e-mail should be sent to psb [dot] clerk [at] vermont [dot] gov

You have two chances to weigh in on proposed criteria for the future sale of Burlington Telecom.

The clock is ticking. According to agreements reached with Citibank and Bluewater Holdings, the City of Burlington has less than four years to sell Burlington Telecom. The sooner the City completes the transaction, the more money it will will recover from the sale. The City Council will vote on criteria that will be used to determine a buyer for BT in early 2016.

At their last meeting (9/9/15), The Burlington Telecom Advisory Board (BTAB) outlined a process for gathering public input on the the criteria to be used as the City evaluates prospective owners. 

Participate in this process and help to ensure that Burlington finds the best owner for our precious municipal asset--a future-proof open network that can assure our cultural and economic prosperity for many years to come. Here are the ways you can get involved:

 

  • October 13th (7:30 p.m. at Channel 17 Studios) - Attend an organizing meeting with activists interested in influencing the BT sale. Meet other community members interested in preserving our local municipal asset to keep it affordable, accessible, viable and pay back the citizens of Burlington the money they have already invested in this highly valuable service. Learn what more you can do and what others are saying about the future sale of Burlington Telecom.

  • October 22nd (5:30 - 7:00 p.m. - Room 12, City Hall) - Learn more with the BTAB about the conditions that current contracts with Citibank and Bluewater Group and the limitations these contracts place on the upcoming sale.     

  • October 29th (12- 2 p.m.- City Hall) - BTV Ignite public event featuring two of the nation’s high profile “gigabit cities” Chattanooga and Kansas City that will showcase the innovations now underway in their communities. (You can read more about the BTV Ignite Playbook here).

  • November 18th (12 - 1:30 p.m.) & 20th (5:30 - 7 p.m. - Room 12, City Hall) - Two meetings to hear from the public about proposed criteria for selecting the next owners of BT and its assets.

Following those meetings, the BTAB will prepare a report, ask for public feedback and send to City Council in February, 2016.