S.181

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee - Testimony of H.11 Broadband and VoIP Services 04/24/2025

Overview of H.11 Broadband and VoIP Services at the Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee.

On Thursday, the House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure discussed H.11. The bill proposes to establish various consumer protection provisions applicable to broadband service and to Voice over Internet Protocol service.

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee - Testimony of H.121 Broadband Services 04/24/2025

Testimony of H.121 Broadband Services at the Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee.

On Thursday, the committee continued discussion on the bill. They took testimony from Sean Gonsalves, Institute for Self Reliance.

Sean Gonsalves, H.121: Written Testimony: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Energy%20and%20Digital/Bills/H.121/Witness%20Documents/H.121~Sean%20Gonsalves~Written%20Testimony~4-24-2025.pdf

Sean Gonsalves, H.121: Presentation: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Energy%20and%20Digital/Bills/H.121/Witness%20Documents/H.121~Sean%20Gonsalves~Presentation~4-24-2025.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee - Testimony of H.121 Broadband Services 04/23/2025

Testimony of H.121 Broadband Services at the Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee.

On Wednesday, the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure committee took testimony from Paul Goodman (Center for Accessible Technology). H.121, as introduced, proposes to establish various consumer protection provisions applicable to broadband service and to Voice over Internet Protocol service.

H.121: Report- Broadband Policy Options to Improve Affordability for Low-Income Californians: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Energy%20and%20Digital/Bills/H.121/Witness%20Documents/H.121~Paul%20Goodman~Report-%20Broadband%20Policy%20Options%20to%20Improve%20Affordability%20for%20Low-Income%20Californians~4-23-2025.pdf

H.121: Written Testimony and Qualifications: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Energy%20and%20Digital/Bills/H.121/Witness%20Documents/H.121~Paul%20Goodman~Written%20Testimony%20and%20Qualifications~4-23-2025.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Government Operations and Military Affairs - Walkthrough of S.59 Open Meeting Law 04/23/2025

Walkthrough of S.59 Open Meeting Law at the Vermont House Government Operations and Military Affairs.

On Wednesday, Tucker Anderson, legislative counsel, walked the committee through changes requested in testimony. Anderson walked the committee through what they had already discussed (exclusion of working groups, cyber security, executive session length). Anderson then walked through VAN’s proposed language - he said the request was to clarify in the duty to record meeting third parties can be used. He said legally this clause is not necessary because there is a duty applied to the municipal cooperation but it is not necessary for it to be them - he said it could be added for public clarity. Rep. Nugent said if it was unnecessary then it may confuse people later on. Rep. Birong said adding clarity might help the public understand obligations. Anderson joked that no words the general assembly included were superfluous. Rep. Birong said the committee would come back and discuss this language later.

S.59: As Passed by Senate: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Government%20Operations/Bills/S.59/Drafts,%20Amendments,%20and%20Other%20Legal%20Documents/S.59~Tucker%20Anderson~As%20Passed%20by%20Senate~4-23-2025.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Government Operations and Military Affairs - Testimony of S.59 Open Meeting Law 04/17/2025

Testimony of S.59 Open Meeting Law at the Vermont House Government Operations and Military Affairs.

On THURSDAY, Lauren-Glenn Davitian testified on S.59, a bill to make technical changes to open meeting law. The committee also heard from the County Regional Planning Commission, Vermont Communications Union Districts Association, and legislative counsel.

S.59: VAN Comments: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Government%20Operations/Bills/S.59/Witness%20Documents/S.59~Lauren-Glenn%20Davitian~VAN%20Comments~4-17-2025.pdf

S.59: VAPDA Comments: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Government%20Operations/Bills/S.59/Witness%20Documents/S.59~Catherine%20Dimitruk~VAPDA%20Comments%20~4-17-2025.pdf

S.59: VCUDA Suggested Amendment: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Government%20Operations/Bills/S.59/Witness%20Documents/S.59~Matt%20Cota~VCUDA%20Suggested%20Amendment~4-17-2025.pdf

S.59: CUD Map: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Government%20Operations/Bills/S.59/Witness%20Documents/S.59~Matt%20Cota~CUD%20Map~4-17-2025.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Appropriations Committee - Discussion of Federal Funding 04/15/2025

Discussion of Federal Funding at the Vermont House Appropriations Committee.

On Tuesday, Secretary of State (SOS) Sarah Copeland Hanzas presented about Federal Funding in House Appropriations.

Lauren Hibbert, Secretary of State Federal Funds Spreadsheet: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Appropriations/Federal%20Funds/W~Lauren%20Hibbert~Secretary%20of%20State%20Federal%20Funds%20Spreadsheet~4-15-2025.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Government Operations and Military Affairs - Testimony of S.59 Open Meeting Law 04/10/2025

Testimony of S.59 Open Meeting Law at the Vermont House Government Operations and Military Affairs.

On Thursday, the House Government Operations and Military Affairs committee continued testimony on S.59, a bill which makes technical corrections to Vermont’s open meeting law. The committee heard from Maura Collins (VHFA), Natalie Kanner (Charlotte Selectboard), Mike Donoghue (Vermont Press Association), and John Flowers (Vermont Press Association).

S.59: Written Testimony (The Valley Reporter): https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Government%20Operations/Bills/S.59/Witness%20Documents/S.59~Lisa%20Loomis~Written%20Testimony~4-10-2025.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate Appropriations Committee - Discussion of VAN’s FY26 Budget Request 04/09/2025

Discussion of VAN’s FY26 Budget Request at the Vermont Senate Appropriations Committee.

On Wednesday, the Senate Appropriations Committee closed out your line, with your full funding request intact. Congratulatons! They decided NOT to include the community radio in your grant.

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee - Testimony of H.11 Broadband and VoIP Services and Testimony of H.121 Broadband Services 04/03/2025

Testimony of H.11 Broadband and VoIP Services and Testimony of H.121 Broadband Services at the Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee.

On Thursday, in the House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure Scott Brooks, from Consolidated Communications, testified on H.11. The bill proposes to establish various consumer protection provisions applicable to broadband service and to Voice over Internet Protocol service.

On Thursday, in the House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure Scott Brooks, from Consolidated Communications, testified on H.121. The bill proposes to establish various consumer protection provisions applicable to broadband service and to Voice over Internet Protocol service.

H.11, As Introduced: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Energy%20and%20Digital/Bills/H.11/Drafts,%20Amendments,%20and%20Legal%20Documents/H.11~John%20Bergmayer~As%20Introduced~3-18-2025.pdf

Presentation - Consolidated Communications Company Overview: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Energy%20and%20Digital/Digital%20Infrastructure/W~Scott%20Brooks~Presentation-%20Consolidated%20Communications%20Company%20Overview~4-3-2025.pdf

H.11: Written Testimony: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Energy%20and%20Digital/Bills/H.11/Witness%20Documents/H.11~Scott%20Brooks~Written%20Testimony~4-3-2025.pdf

H.121, As Introduced: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/BILLS/H-0121/H-0121%20As%20Introduced.pdf

H.121: Written Testimony: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Energy%20and%20Digital/Bills/H.121/Witness%20Documents/H.121~Scott%20Brooks~Written%20Testimony~4-3-2025.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee - Testimony of Federal BEAD Funding 04/03/2025

Testimony of Federal BEAD Funding at the Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee.

On Thursday, the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee took testimony from representatives of the Vermont Community Broadband Board and the Vermont Communications Union Districts Association on the federal BEAD funding.

Vermont Community Broadband Board presentation: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Energy%20and%20Digital/Digital%20Infrastructure/W~Christine%20Hallquist~Presentation-%20Rural%20Broadband%20and%20Federal%20BEAD%20Funding~4-3-2025.pdf

Vermont Communications Union Districts Association presentation: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Energy%20and%20Digital/Digital%20Infrastructure/W~Rob%20Vietzke~Presentation-%20Vermont%20Communications%20District%20and%20Federal%20BEAD%20Funding~4-3-2025.pdf

Featured Story

Paid Summer Internship Opportunities: "Conversations" and "Places"

Town Meeting TV is now accepting applications for TWO unique summer internship opportunities: Conversations and Places! Both internships will begin June 30th and run until August 15th. 6 hours per week, $16 per hour. Application deadline: Monday, June 2nd. Click here to learn more and apply!