For Immediate Release, July 7, 2026
Media Contact:
Julia Vallera, Director of Marketing, NEKCV
802-222-0443
Free Underground and Long-Distance Aerial Fiber Installations Available
Derby and Holland are the latest communities to gain access to high-speed fiber internet and WiFi home telephone service through NEK Broadband, joining a growing number of towns across the Northeast Kingdom.
In fact, a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) ReConnect Grant is funding the construction of fiber optic lines and network equipment in all of Essex County. The goal is to complete service availability there by the end of 2026.
In today’s world, reliable high-speed internet is key to finding educational opportunities, healthcare resources, employment, and staying connected with family and friends. Almost all locations in the expansion areas of Holland and Derby have had limited access to the internet, with only slow speeds over aging and outdated copper lines. Derby now has service in the eastern area of town, with additional locations currently under construction.
Holland has regularly been left behind on telephone and internet upgrades for many decades. That has changed for good. 75 percent of the addresses in Holland now have access to robust internet speeds, up to NEK Broadband’s Ultra service at 2 Gigs – both upload and download. The remaining locations in Holland, those with electric utility connections, will be able to sign up by the end of the year.
In addition, free pole-to-home and underground conduit installations for eligible locations are now offered. Residents can learn about the Zero-cost Internet Install Program (ZIIP) and apply on the nekbroadband.org website under “Service.” ZIIP funding is also through a USDA ReConnect grant, with additional funding from the Vermont Community Broadband Board American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
Find out whether a specific address is included, subscribe for service, or register for updates by going to get.nekbroadband.org.
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NEK Community Broadband (doing business as NEKCV, NEK Broadband and CVFiber) is a communications union district (CUD) that is community-driven and working to ensure every resident with utility service across 72 towns in Northeast and Central Vermont has access to high-speed internet with symmetrical speeds up to two gigabits per second. Affordable internet is central to creating greater economic prosperity and educational opportunities. The communications union district is committed to investing profits into the network, increasing affordability and supporting digital access and literacy. More information is available at nekcv.org.
Funding Sources
The funding for NEK Broadband’s major infrastructure effort has come from a USDA Reconnect grant and the ARPA Capital Projects Fund. Both the Derby and Holland select boards allocated ARPA funds to help accelerate getting this much-needed internet service to local residents.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded $17,463,911to NEK Broadband through the USDA ReConnect Loan & Grant Program. The overall investment will be used to deploy a high-speed internet network to benefit 3,295 people, 94 businesses, 183 farms and 11 educational facilities in Caledonia, Essex and Orleans counties.