NEK Broadband

The Internet You Need ~ Built by Your Community

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NEK Broadband Is Expanding Service to Over 700 Addresses in Parts of Seven Towns

NEK Broadband announced today that it has added its fiber optic internet service to parts of Danville, Kirby, Lyndon, St. Johnsbury, Walden and Wheelock. More than 700 new addresses are part of this latest expansion to underserved communities in the Northeast Kingdom, bringing the total addresses with service to over 2,100. New service has already begun in some towns and will continue to expand over the next few weeks. Local residents can find out if they are part of this expansion by going to https://get.nekbroadband.org/. Residents who do not have access can also pre-order service there.

High-speed internet via NEK Broadband is carried through fiber optic cable with speed levels from 50Mbps to a Gigabyte. There are no data caps and uploading is as fast as downloading. 

“Getting NEK Broadband was a real game changer for me and my life,” said Leann from Concord. “As a nurse, sometimes I need to do correspondence for my work at home. Before, I often had to go all the way to Littleton to get a secure connection – it was a nightmare. Now, with the reliability and speed of NEK Broadband’s internet service, I can stay home and do it. The best part was how seamless and amazing the installation was. The crew members were so kind and made sure all my questions were answered.”

“We’re so pleased to end 2023 by giving more residents of the NEK access to high-speed internet,” said Christa Shute, NEK Broadband’s Executive Director. “We plan to bring even more residents online in early 2024.”

Additional new service will be available in early 2024 to addresses in parts of the following towns:

  • Barnet
  • Burke
  • Concord
  • Danville
  • East Haven
  • Groton
  • Hardwick
  • Lunenburg
  • Lyndon
  • Peacham
  • Ryegate
  • Sutton
  • Walden
  • Waterford

People in NEK Broadband’s service area who would like to be notified when they will have access can sign up for updates at https://get.nekbroadband.org/.

These newly launched areas have been funded by federal grants through the Vermont Community Broadband Board.

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About NEK Broadband

NEK Broadband is a Communications Union District (CUD) representing every town in Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties, plus Wolcott in Lamoille County. We are a community-driven organization building public infrastructure to help ensure that every address that has existing electric utility service will have access to high-speed broadband service. As a municipality, we are a non-profit, so revenue from customers will go towards building and repairing infrastructure and increasing affordability for our residents. 

NEK Broadband receives ReConnect 17.5 Million Award

In May NEK Broadband was the first entity in the U.S. Northeast to receive a grant from the USDA’s ReConnect program of $17.5 million to provide internet for parts of NEK’s 22 most rural towns.  Check out this map [LINK}, that the funding is going to cover most of Essex County. 

The network we’ll be building starting next year will include getting fiber cable all the way to your home, and a free router to go inside it!. Where we start building will depend on a number of factors, including demonstrated interest from towns that are covered by the grant.  So, encourage your fellow residents to pre-register at get.nekbroadband.org. 

For those not covered by the grant, this award means that any previous funding that we had designated for those rural areas can now be used for expanding our network plans in other towns.

We are ready to serve the Waterford Area!

Great news! NEK Broadband is thrilled to announce that our fiber optic network is now ready to begin serving residents in the Waterford area. We have recently begun scheduling installations and will be working to get through all existing orders as quickly as possible. We appreciate your patience during this final installation phase as we work diligently to bring you the best possible internet service.

If you have already ordered service, there is nothing you need to do, just sit tight and we will be reaching out to schedule your fiber installation. If you get a voicemail from us looking to schedule your installation, please return our call as quickly as you can. When we come to your house for your installation, a technician will install all required equipment, connect everything up and answer any questions you may have. Then you’ll be all set and ready to get on with your new life – the internet worry-free life made possible by NEK-Broadband!

If you haven’t ordered service yet, please visit https://get.nekbroadband.org/ to confirm service availability at your address and place your order.

NEK Broadband Offers Fiber-Based High-Speed Internet to Waterford Area Addresses

Makes Progress on Promise to Bring Internet Access to the Northeast Kingdom

NEK Broadband announced today that it has added new addresses in Waterford to its fiber network, delivering on its promise to bring high-speed internet to underserved communities in the Northeast Kingdom. The Waterford network has been funded by a combination of federal grants through the Vermont Community Broadband Board and the town’s contribution of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. 

High-speed internet via NEK Broadband is now available in some areas of Waterford that previously did not have access to cable internet service. 

“It’s so gratifying to see continued demonstrable progress in bringing internet service to the Kingdom as we reach our current total of over 1,000 addresses passed by our active fiber network,” said Christa Shute, Executive Director of NEK Broadband. “Waterford made an early and substantial ARPA commitment to expand service. Between now and the end of the year we will  be providing new service to addresses in ten additional towns, and of course expansion doesn’t stop there.”

The VCBB issued a press release on September 28th announcing an additional construction grant award to NEK Broadband of $17.94 million bringing the total construction grant funds from the VCBB to the district to $38.9 million.  The recent grant awards will expand the construction grant area from portions of 16 towns to portions of 35 towns.  

“NEK Broadband’s progress is one more step forward to providing digital equity for Vermonters so they can live, work, and learn using the high-speed connection that is necessary for their success,” said Christine Hallquist, Executive Director of the Vermont Community Broadband Board.

Michael Barrett, the NEK Broadband board member representing Waterford, added, “Waterford’s investment of ARPA dollars in this project is bearing fruit for our citizens. It’s so satisfying to finally see a vision for high-speed internet in Waterford become a reality.”

People in NEK Broadband’s service area who would like to keep track of when service will be available at their home can sign up for updates at https://get.nekbroadband.org/.

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About NEK Broadband

NEK Broadband is a Communications Union District (CUD) representing every town in Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties, plus Wolcott in Lamoille County. We are a community-driven organization building public infrastructure to help ensure that every address that has existing electric utility service will have access to high-speed broadband service. As a municipality, we are a non-profit, so revenue from customers will go towards building and repairing infrastructure and increasing affordability for our residents. 

Request for Proposal: RFP NEK2023-01

Underground Services for Customer Drop Extensions

The purpose of this RFP is to compile a list of approved contractors that NEK Broadband can provide to customers who require underground work performed in order to complete their broadband installation. Approved vendors will be working directly with the customer for scheduling and billing. 

RFP: Underground Services

Deadlines:

  • Questions are due by 2/15/23
  • Intent to Respond is due by 2/15/23
  • Proposal Submission Deadline: Rolling to 3/1/23

Request for Proposal: RFP NEK2023-2

Permitting Services

This RFP shall be for a project or series of broadband network projects on behalf of NEK Broadband. Chosen provider will be supplying NEK Broadband with permitting services needed over the next 12 – 24 months with potential renewals.

RFP: Permitting Services

Deadlines:

Questions are due by 2/15/23

Intent to Respond is REQUIRED for this RFP, and is due by 2/15/23

Proposal Submission Deadline: Rolling to 3/1/23