Broadband in Vermont
e-Vermont: The Vermont Community Broadband Project
VCRD has applied for funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. If funded, we will work with 24 communities in the next two years to help them realize the opportunities of the Internet for civic engagement, community betterment, school modernization, job creation and e-commerce. Other partners in this effort include: Vermont Small Business Development Center, Vermont State Colleges, Vermont Department of Libraries, the Snelling Center for Government, Front Porch Forum, and Digital Wish; and we thank the Vermont Department of Public Service for their guidance. If your community has high-speed access and is interested in participating, please let us know. Find out more.
Rural Broadband Project
In the winter of 2002, the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) and the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative sponsored a study of the use of the Internet by businesses and residents in northeastern Vermont. While the use of the Internet was high, even in the most rural areas, the smaller communities were frustrated by a lack of affordable high speed Internet access.
As a result, the Council created the Vermont Rural Broadband Project to assist rural communities across the state in local efforts to acquire affordable broadband service for their areas. The solution for each community may be different – from encouraging national providers to extend existing services to encouraging small local providers to service a new area, to helping towns create their own service. In all cases, the projects start by connecting with local residents and businesses that want broadband service.
New Internet service technologies for rural areas are making expanded, affordable broadband possible, but any service still needs a minimum number of customers to be viable. The goal of the Rural Broadband Project is to connect individuals who need service with local community groups working to bring service to their area. Where no active groups exist, the Rural Broadband Project can help you start a local Community Internet Project, or let you know if new services become available in your area.
For more information, or to participate, please contact info@VTRuralBroadband.organd visit www.vtruralbroadband.com.
