Vermont Telecommunications Authority Awards State Broadband Grants

The 2008 Broadband Grant winners were announced today by the Vermont Telecommunications Authority. Six awards were made. ECFiber was one of the winners receiving $25,000. EC Fiber is a a regional broadband cooperative managed by Valley Net to serve 25 towns in the southeastern part of Vermont.

The Authority was looking for creative ways to extend affordable high-speed Internet access to the unserved and under-served areas of the state and chose to fund $200,000 worth of projects in: Cannan/Norton, Fletcher, Elmore, Hardwick, Ripton and Stamford.

Jerry Johnson, Chair of the Broadband Grant Sub Committee of the VTA, said “There were more an better applicants for the grants this year than in the past reflecting the growing demand by Vermonters for high speed Internet access. Access is essential to our state’s economic development, health services, educational programs and first responders. The ECFiber application meets all the Broadband Grant goals. This is the first year that the grants have been used for planning but the 25 towns have made their message heard loud and clear. They need Internet access now.”
This year’s grants will utilize Wi-Fi hot spots in the towns of Elmore and Hardwick, fund a town cooperative in Stamford, provide wireless access in Canaan/Norton and Ripton, provide funds to a wireless service provider to utilize a Mt. Mansfield tower in order to reach Fletcher and surrounding towns in northwest Vermont, and to provide planning for ECFiber’s FTTH project.
For more information, contact: info [at] telecomVT [dot] org