Broadband

$116 Million for broadband targets unserved areas of VT
Vermont Business Magazine - 4/10
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Wednesday that an $81 million broadband stimulus grant and a $35 million government backed loan to Springfield-based Vermont Telephone Company (VTel). The $35,166,081 loan and $81,664,754 grant to VTel Wireless, Inc for their Wireless Open World (WOW) project is one of 49 broadband infrastructure projects announced nationally.

The Recovery Act appropriated $7.2 billion and directed the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) to expand broadband access to unserved and underserved communities across the U.S., increase jobs, spur investments in technology and infrastructure, and provide long-term economic benefits.

Please go to broadbandusa.gov to learn more about ARRA-related broadband projects, including Round 2 applications due March 15, 2010.

Federal Broadband and Related Programs

Broadband Stimulus Presentation to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Conference - Burlington and Brattleboro
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)-- Broadband Telecommunications Opportunities Program (BTOP)
USDA Rural Development Telecommunications Program. See the USDA's Rural Utilities Service's vision for implementation of ARRA rural broadband funding.

New Online Tool Available to Help Grant Seekers Find Partners

BroadbandMatch — http://match.broadbandusa.gov — allows potential applicants to find partners for broadband projects.

For more information, see: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/press/2010/BBMatch_20100107.html

State Broadband Coordination Efforts

March 22, 2010

Excerpts on Internet availability and subscribership in Vermont from a forthcoming report on a telephone survey conducted in the preparation of the Vermont Telecommunications Plan 2010.

February 25, 2010

Broadband availability map data is now available for use by potential applicants to the Round 2 BIP and BTOP.

Notes on map and data.
PDF Map
GIS data package for potential applicants.
Tabular data for potential applicants.

January 26, 2010

The Vermont Office of the Chief Technology Officer has issued a Notice and Request for Comments seeking responses from potential Vermont applicants for funding under the second rounds of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP). Responses are requested by February 2, 2010.

October 16, 2009

State priorities for BTOP funding provided to the NTIA:

Letter from Chief Recovery Officer Tom Evslin.
State broadband availability map.
State broadband availability data by census block.

October 13, 2009

Vermont Telecommunications Authority has issued a Request for Proposals seeking service provider partners to provide service to unserved parts of North-Central Vermont, including preparation of a Round 2 broadband stimulus proposal. See the RFP for more information.

July 31, 2009

Revised broadband availability data.

Notes on map and data.
Data package for potential applicants, including map and tabular data.

July 16, 2009

Standard service areas for last mile infrastructure applicants.

Message to potential last mile infrastructure applicants
Standard Service Areas (PDF)

May 21, 2009--Request

Office of Economic Stimulus and Recovery (ESR) Announces Process for Identifying Vermont State Priority Projects for Broadband Stimulus under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

March 6, 2009--Request

Office of Economic Stimulus and Recovery Seeks Input on a Coordinated Strategy for Supporting Broadband Service and Related Purposes in Vermont under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)—Responses Requested by March 20, 2009 - PDF File (14KB). Additional Materials:

Office of Economic Stimulus and Recovery

Agency of Administration