Broadband Network
Wins $25,000,
But Not $8 Million
 

 

The Vermont Telecommunications Authority this week announced its Broadband Grant winners. Six awards totaling $200,000 were made, and ECFiber was one of them, receiving $25,000.

The Vermont Legislature has funded the Broadband Grant Program for four years. Last year it was funded with the $200,000 allocation. The goal of the program is to create demonstration projects to test viable models for providing broadband to all Vermonters.

The Authority was looking for creative ways to extend affordable high-speed Internet access to the unserved and underserved areas of the state.

Jerry Johnson, chair of the Broadband Grant SubCommittee of the VTA, said, "There were more and better applicants for the grants this year than in the past, reflecting the growing demand by Vermonters for high speed Internet access." Referring to the ECFiber grant, Johnson noted, "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."

The applications were judged using several criteria. Among them were: a strong public-private partnership, use of the grants as seed money to attract additional funds or contributions, and the availability to everyone in a covered area.