S.181

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Government Operations and Military Affairs - Discussion of VAN’s FY26 Budget Request 02/25/2025

Discussion of VAN’s FY26 Budget Request at the Vermont House Government Operations and Military Affairs.

This week, VAN’s request for $1.35 million in base funding was formally endorsed by the Committee for inclusion in its budget memo to House Appropriations. On Tuesday, VAN was the first item discussed in the Committee’s review of requests for inclusion in their budget memo. The committee had a question about last year’s funding. Amy Shollenberger was in the room, and the Chair allowed her to answer this question. Rep. Hooper, Rep. Hango and Rep. Chea Waters-Evans all spoke in favor of VAN’s budget request. Rep. Hango called out her PEG director and said that he told her during Covid that they recorded all the sporting events so people could watch them even though they couldn’t attend the events. She was so impressed with this. Rep. Boyden added that her local PEG works with the local CTE center and helps kids learn new skills.

The spreadsheet they worked from is here: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Government%20Operations/FY26%20Budget%20Memo/W~Lisa%20Hango~FY26%20Budget%20Spreadsheet~2-25-2025.pdf

Also on TUESDAY, the committee also discussed a request of $250,000 from the Vermont Broadcasters Network for Community Radio Stations. Rep. Hooper mentioned a bill he has sponsored, and the connection to the National Guard. Chair Birong confirmed that this recommendation mirrors what is in the bill. The committee expressed support, but no decision was made on Tuesday. This request was also approved on Wednesday.

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Appropriations and Senate Appropriations Committees - Public Hearing - Vermont Access Network 02/20/2025

Public Hearing - Vermont Access Network at the Vermont House Appropriations and Senate Appropriations Committees.

On Thursday, House Appropriations and Senate Appropriations held the second of two joint public hearings on the FY26 budget. VAN was represented by Johnny Gifford in voicing your request to the Committees. Well done! Links to your oral and written testimonies are below.

Written Testimony: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/Senate%20Appropriations/FY%202026%20Budget/Public%20Hearings%20and%20Letters/W~Johnny%20Gifford~VT%20Access%20Network~2-20-2025.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Appropriations Committee - Overview of Vermont's Agency of Administration 02/18/2025

Overview of Vermont’s Agency of Administration at the Vermont House Appropriations Committee.

On Tuesday, Sarah Clark was in House Appropriations to testify on federal funding and the state’s response to the current uncertainty. A link to her remarks and media coverage are below.

Final Reading: Vermont officials are trying to navigate Trump’s executive actions. https://vtdigger.org/2025/02/18/final-reading-vermont-officials-are-trying-to-navigate-trumps-executive-actions/

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Appropriations - Discussion of VAN’s FY26 Budget Request 02/14/2025

Discussion of VAN’s FY26 Budget Request at the Vermont House Government Operations and Military Affairs.

On Friday, the Secretary of State’s Office presented their FY26 budget to the House Appropriations Committee. Lauren Hibbert shared your request of $1.35 million, which the Secretary’s Office supports. Rep. Jim Harrison asked if some of VAN’s services might be redundant, since most legislative meetings are now broadcast live via YouTube for example. Rep. Stevens and Rep. Mrowicki made some nice comments about how important public access is to civic participation and democracy. Matthew followed up afterward with Rep. Harrison, who clarified he is just scrutinizing any/all increases in spending in the FY26 budget, and “there is no problem here.” He understands the importance of VAN’s work, and that the vast majority of VAN’s request is in the Governor’s recommended budget.

VAN’s FY26 budget request can be seen at the top of p. 2 of this Secretary of State Office memo to House Appropriations about their budget: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Appropriations/FY%202026%20Budget/3.%20Protection%20to%20Persons%20and%20Property/W~Sarah%20Copeland%20Hanzas~SOS%20FY26%20Budget%20Memo~2-14-2025.pdf

VAN’s 3-year budget plan/request can be found on slide 11 of the SOS presentation, here: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Appropriations/FY%202026%20Budget/3.%20Protection%20to%20Persons%20and%20Property/W~Sarah%20Copeland%20Hanzas~SOS%20FY26%20Budget%20Presentation~2-14-2025.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Appropriations and Senate Appropriations Committees - Public Hearing - Vermont Access Network 02/13/2025

Public Hearing - Vermont Access Network at the Vermont House Appropriations and Senate Appropriations Committees.

On Thursday, House Appropriations and Senate Appropriations held the first of two joint public hearings on the FY26 budget. VAN was represented by LG Davitian and Kurt Broderson in voicing your request to the Committees. Well done! Links to your oral and written testimonies are below.

LG’s written testimony is here: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/Senate%20Appropriations/FY%202026%20Budget/Public%20Hearings%20and%20Letters/W~Lauren-Glenn%20Davitian~VT%20Access%20Network~2-13-2025.pdf

Kurt’s written testimony is here: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/Senate%20Appropriations/FY%202026%20Budget/Public%20Hearings%20and%20Letters/W~Kurt%20Broderson~Vermont%20Access%20Network~2-13-2025.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee - Overview of H.11 Broadband and VoIP Services and Overview of H.121 Broadband Services 02/04/2025

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

On Tuesday, Rep. Laura Sibilia introduced H.11 to the House Energy & Digital Infrastructure Committee. Strengthen telecom infrastructure and protect consumers. Broadband is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. Service is sometimes unreliable, hidden fees. Lack of oversight is part of the problem. The market won’t regulate itself - not enough competition in Vermont. Prohibits misleading advertising, excessive fees, monitoring of VOIP. No one should be left behind. The stakes are high.

H.11 as introduced is here: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/BILLS/H-0011/H-0011%20As%20Introduced.pdf

On Tuesday, Rep. Chris Morrow introduced H.121 to the House Energy & Digital Infrastructure Committee. Modeled on similar bill passed in New York, the bill proposes to establish a low-cost, low-speed broadband option for low income Vermont households - the suggestion is $15/month for 25Mbs service.

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

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee - Overview of Vermont Community Broadband Board 01/29/2025

Overview of Vermont Community Broadband Board at the Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee.

On Wednesday, the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure committee had an introduction to the Vermont Community Broadband Board.

Presentation- Vermont Community Broadband Board Overview: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Energy%20and%20Digital/Digital%20Infrastructure/W~Christine%20Hallquist~Presentation-%20Vermont%20Community%20Broadband%20Board%20Overview~1-29-2025.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate Finance Committee - Overview of Vermont’s Communication Union Districts and Vermont Community Broadband Board 01/29/2025

Overview of Vermont’s Communication Union Districts and Vermont Community Broadband Board at the Vermont Senate Finance Committee.

On Wednesday, this group was in Senate Finance to give an introduction and an overview.

VCBB Presentation: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/Senate%20Finance/Communications/W~Christine%20Hallquist~VCBB%20Presentation~1-29-2025.pdf

The presentation slides are here: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/Senate%20Finance/Communications/W~Matt%20Cota~Communications%20Union%20Districts%20Presentation~1-29-2025.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee - Overview of Vermont’s Communication Union Districts 01/29/2025

Overview of Vermont’s Communication Union Districts at the Vermont House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee.

On Wednesday, the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure committee had an introduction and overview of Vermont’s Communication Union Districts (VCUDA).

Presentation- VCUDA Overview: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Energy%20and%20Digital/Digital%20Infrastructure/W~Ellie%20de%20Villiers~Presentation-%20VCUDA%20Overview~1-29-2025.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate Government Operations - Testimony of VAN’s FY26 Budget Request 01/24/2025

Testimony of VAN’s FY26 Budget Request at the Vermont Senate Government Operations.

On Friday, Lauren-Glenn Davitian was in committee for introductions and to present VAN’s FY26 ask. The committee was overwhelmingly supportive with Senator White offering to sponsor any future legislation to find a permanent funding solution.

Vermont Access Network FY2026 Budget Request: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/Senate%20Government%20Operations/Requests/W~Lauren-Glenn%20Davitian~Vermont%20Access%20Network%20FY2026%20Budget%20Request~1-24-2025.pdf

Vermont Access Network Written Testimony: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/Senate%20Government%20Operations/Requests/W~Lauren-Glenn%20Davitian~Vermont%20Access%20Network%20Written%20Testimony~1-24-2025.pdf

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