NEKCUD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

 

May 16, 2023

 

VERMONT COMMUNITY BROADBAND BOARD GRANTEES TO TESTIFY BEFORE U.S. SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE

Montpelier, Vermont – NEK Broadband Executive Director Christa Shute and Waitsfield & Champlain Valley Telecom (WCVT) Vice President of Industry Relations Roger Nishi will testify on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at 3:00 before the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy. The hearing is entitled, “Rural Broadband: Connecting our Communities to the Digital Economy.”

The United States Department of Agriculture has a series of important broadband programs  geared to the most rural areas of America where it is most costly to invest in broadband infrastructure. Truely high-speed internet is fundamental for effective participation in our nation’s economy, healthcare, education, personal job success, as well as access to federal and state services, the political process, and community engagement.

“NEK Broadband has successfully applied for and managed grants through USDA.  We are pleased to have this opportunity to share with members of the U.S. Senate both the ongoing importance of these programs and constructive suggestions from first-hand experience on how they can be improved for future rounds of funding.”  

“This is a testament to what we already know in Vermont. The people running our Communications Union Districts (CUDs) and their partners are nationally recognized experts and leaders in the industry. We’re lucky to have them working for us every day in Vermont,” said VCBB Executive Director Christine Hallquist.

VCBB has made grants of $8.3 million to WCVT and $20.9 to NEK Broadband. You can watch the testimony live at 3:00 Wednesday at Rural Broadband: Connecting our Communities | Senate Committee On Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry.

Contact: 

Herryn Herzog,

VCBB Communications & Outreach Coordinator

phone: (802) 522-3396 

email:

Vermont Department of Public Service 

112 State Street 

Montpelier, VT 05601-2601 

###