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News
2023 Annual Report
NEK Broadband has prepared and distributed an Annual Report and Budget for 2023.
CUD Legislative Day Recap
On January 31st, 2024, the Vermont Communications Union Districts Association (VCUDA) together with member CUDs from across Vermont convened at the State House in Montpelier for Vermont CUD (Communications Union District) Day. The day was established to raise awareness about the efforts to expand broadband internet access in Vermont.
VCUDA consists of ten CUDs, regional municipalities that have formed in Vermont to provide world-class broadband to unserved and underserved addresses in Vermont. VCUDA elected officers, CUD board members, partners, and staff participated in CUD Legislative Day to demonstrate their progress, express their gratitude, and submit their request to legislators for continued statewide support.
Vermont Communication Districts:
- Chittenden County
- CVFiber
- DVFiber
- ECFiber
- Lamoille FiberNet
- Maple Broadband
- NEK Broadband
- Northwest Fiberworx
- Otter Creek
- Southern Vermont Communications Union District
Discussions
Throughout the day, VCUDA and CUD representatives attended various sessions including:
- Meeting with Speaker of the House, Jill Krowinski,
- Meeting with President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth,
- Providing testimony to the Senate Finance Committee,
- Meeting with Lt. Governor David Zuckerman,
- Attending the Senate Appropriations Committee discussion on the Budget Appropriations Act,
- Providing testimony to the House Energy and Environment Committee,
- Attending the House session where Rep. Jim Masland read the Resolution to recognize and honor the organizations and individuals working to resolve Vermont’s rural broadband access crisis.
Key Takeaways
Legislative Day demonstrated a collaborative spirit among the CUDs with optimistic growth as they head into 2024. The day allowed the CUDs to celebrate progress, share information, and rally support for ongoing efforts to improve broadband infrastructure throughout the state. Among the most notable conversations and key takeaways, this presence showed a joint effort and mutual understanding among the CUDs.
- When possible, CUDs will be working together to share limited resources as much as possible. As a result of a retreat CUD leaders participated in after Legislative Day, their focus included ways to be stronger together by sharing resources and working collaboratively. This applies to project management, HR, IT, grant preparation including BEAD and others.
- The Senate Finance Committee was very interested in the timeline and specifically asked for a project completion date. They had also noted the need for closely tracking this progress. Robert Fish, Deputy Director of the Vermont Communications Broadband Board (VCBB), provided assurances regarding accountable and transparent reporting. Since each CUD varies in terms of their maturity with ECFiber leading the way with its progress, an estimated completion date relies on several factors including funding.
- The Lt. Governor was very engaged in CUD progress and offered his continued help if any of the CUDs face any obstacles. He sees the CUD initiative being integrally connected to housing as the state’s population grows and people need broadband.
- Although the VCBB provides a regulatory role among CUD efforts, the CUDs are interested in collaborating more with the VCBB to pursue a mutually beneficial relationship with unified goals.
Thank you!
The day was a big success! We look forward to collaborating with our sister CUDs, legislators, and partners in 2024. A special thank you to our representatives and their continued support of our work.
Chittenden County CUD
House | |
Rep. Julia Andrews | |
Rep. Angela Arsenault | |
Rep. Alyssa Black | |
Rep. Tiffany Bluemle | |
Rep. Erin Brady | |
Rep. Jana Brown | |
Rep. Jessica Brumsted | |
Rep. Seth Chase | |
Rep. Brian Cina | |
Rep. Leonora Dodge | |
Rep. Karen Dolan | |
Rep. Rey Garofano | |
Rep. Edye Graning | |
Rep. Troy Headrick | |
Rep. Robert Hooper | |
Rep. Lori Houghton | |
Rep. Noah Hyman | |
Rep. Emilie Krasnow | |
Rep. Kate Lalley | |
Rep. Martin LaLonde | |
Rep. Brian Minier | |
Rep. Emma Mulvaney-Stanak | |
Rep. Kate Nugent | |
Rep. Carol Ode | |
Rep. Phil Pouech | |
Rep. Barbara Rachelson | |
Rep. Trevor Squirrell | |
Rep. Gabrielle Stebbins | |
Rep. Mary-Katherine Stone | |
Rep. Curt Taylor | |
Rep. Chea Waters Evans | |
Senate | |
Sen. Philip Baruth | |
Sen. Thomas Chittenden | |
Sen. Martine Larocque Gulick | |
Sen. Ginny Lyons | |
Sen. Dick Mazza | |
Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale | |
Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky | |
Sen. Irene Wrenner |
CVFiber
House | |
Rep. Peter Anthony | |
Rep. Melanie Carpenter | |
Rep. Conor Casey | |
Rep. Ela Chapin | |
Rep. Carl Demrow | |
Rep. Kari Dolan | |
Rep. Anne Donahue | |
Rep. Kate Donnally | |
Rep. Gina Galfetti | |
Rep. Kenneth Goslant | |
Rep. Rodney Graham | |
Rep. Philip Hooper | |
Rep. Saudia LaMont | |
Rep. Jed Lipsky | |
Rep. Kate McCann | |
Rep. Francis McFaun | |
Rep. Marc Mihaly | |
Rep. Joseph Parsons | |
Rep. Avram Patt | |
Rep. Henry Pearl | |
Rep. Larry Satcowitz | |
Rep. Thomas Stevens | |
Rep. Dara Torre | |
Rep. Chip Troiano | |
Rep. Jonathan Williams | |
Rep. Theresa Wood | |
Senate | |
Sen. Christopher Bray | |
Sen. Thomas Chittenden | |
Sen. Ann Cummings | |
Sen. Ruth Hardy | |
Sen. Jane Kitchel | |
Sen. Ginny Lyons | |
Sen. Mark MacDonald | |
Sen. Andrew Perchlik | |
Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale | |
Sen. Anne Watson | |
Sen. Richard Westman |
DVFiber
House | |
Rep. Michelle Bos-Lun | |
Rep. Nelson Brownell | |
Rep. Mollie Burke | |
Rep. Heather Chase | |
Rep. Sara Coffey | |
Rep. David Durfee | |
Rep. Leslie Goldman | |
Rep. Emilie Kornheiser | |
Rep. Emily Long | |
Rep. Michael Mrowicki | |
Rep. Logan Nicoll | |
Rep. Kelly Pajala | |
Rep. Mike Rice | |
Rep. Tristan Roberts | |
Rep. Laura Sibilia | |
Rep. Tristan Toleno | |
Senate | |
Sen. Brian Campion | |
Sen. Alison Clarkson | |
Sen. Brian Collamore | |
Sen. Wendy Harrison | |
Sen. Nader Hashim | |
Sen. Dick McCormack | |
Sen. Dick Sears | |
Sen. David Weeks | |
Sen. Becca White | |
Sen. Terry Williams |
ECFiber
House | |
Rep. John Arrison | |
Rep. John Bartholomew | |
Rep. Elizabeth Burrows | |
Rep. Tesha Buss | |
Rep. Coach Christie | |
Rep. Esme Cole | |
Rep. Peter Conlon | |
Rep. Mari Cordes | |
Rep. Carl Demrow | |
Rep. Kari Dolan | |
Rep. Anne Donahue | |
Rep. Caleb Elder | |
Rep. Bobby Farlice-Rubio | |
Rep. Kenneth Goslant | |
Rep. Rodney Graham | |
Rep. James Harrison | |
Rep. Rebecca Holcombe | |
Rep. Philip Hooper | |
Rep. James Masland | |
Rep. John O’Brien | |
Rep. Joseph Parsons | |
Rep. Monique Priestley | |
Rep. Larry Satcowitz | |
Rep. Heather Surprenant | |
Rep. Dara Torre | |
Rep. Kirk White | |
Senate | |
Sen. Christopher Bray | |
Sen. Alison Clarkson | |
Sen. Brian Collamore | |
Sen. Ann Cummings | |
Sen. Ruth Hardy | |
Sen. Jane Kitchel | |
Sen. Mark MacDonald | |
Sen. Dick McCormack | |
Sen. Andrew Perchlik | |
Sen. Anne Watson | |
Sen. David Weeks | |
Sen. Becca White | |
Sen. Terry Williams |
Lamoille FiberNet
House | |
Rep. Julia Andrews | |
Rep. Ashley Bartley | |
Rep. Lucy Boyden | |
Rep. Carolyn Branagan | |
Rep. Melanie Carpenter | |
Rep. Penny Demar | |
Rep. Kate Donnally | |
Rep. Edye Graning | |
Rep. James Gregoire | |
Rep. Mark Higley | |
Rep. Saudia LaMont | |
Rep. Jed Lipsky | |
Rep. Michael Marcotte | |
Rep. Avram Patt | |
Rep. Katherine Sims | |
Rep. Trevor Squirrell | |
Rep. Thomas Stevens | |
Rep. Theresa Wood | |
Senate | |
Sen. Randy Brock | |
Sen. Thomas Chittenden | |
Sen. Ann Cummings | |
Sen. Ginny Lyons | |
Sen. Robert Norris | |
Sen. Andrew Perchlik | |
Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale | |
Sen. Robert Starr | |
Sen. Anne Watson | |
Sen. Richard Westman | |
Sen. Irene Wrenner |
Maple Broadband
House | |
Rep. Joseph Andriano | |
Rep. Matthew Birong | |
Rep. Peter Conlon | |
Rep. Mari Cordes | |
Rep. Kari Dolan | |
Rep. Caleb Elder | |
Rep. Philip Hooper | |
Rep. Diane Lanpher | |
Rep. Jubilee McGill | |
Rep. Phil Pouech | |
Rep. Larry Satcowitz | |
Rep. Robin Scheu | |
Rep. Amy Sheldon | |
Rep. Thomas Stevens | |
Rep. Dara Torre | |
Rep. Chea Waters Evans | |
Rep. Kirk White | |
Rep. Theresa Wood | |
Senate | |
Sen. Christopher Bray | |
Sen. Thomas Chittenden | |
Sen. Brian Collamore | |
Sen. Ann Cummings | |
Sen. Ruth Hardy | |
Sen. Ginny Lyons | |
Sen. Andrew Perchlik | |
Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale | |
Sen. Anne Watson | |
Sen. David Weeks | |
Sen. Terry Williams |
NEK Broadband
House | |
Rep. Scott Beck | |
Rep. Scott Campbell | |
Rep. Bobby Farlice-Rubio | |
Rep. Mark Higley | |
Rep. Larry Labor | |
Rep. Dennis LaBounty | |
Rep. Michael Marcotte | |
Rep. Woodman Page | |
Rep. Henry Pearl | |
Rep. Katherine Sims | |
Rep. Brian Smith | |
Rep. David Templeman | |
Rep. Chip Troiano | |
Rep. Charles Wilson | |
Senate | |
Sen. Russ Ingalls | |
Sen. Jane Kitchel | |
Sen. Robert Starr |
Northwest FiberworX
House | |
Rep. Julia Andrews | |
Rep. Ashley Bartley | |
Rep. Lucy Boyden | |
Rep. Carolyn Branagan | |
Rep. Melanie Carpenter | |
Rep. Seth Chase | |
Rep. Penny Demar | |
Rep. Eileen Dickinson | |
Rep. Kate Donnally | |
Rep. James Gregoire | |
Rep. Lisa Hango | |
Rep. Mark Higley | |
Rep. Wayne Laroche | |
Rep. Josie Leavitt | |
Rep. Michael Marcotte | |
Rep. Christopher Mattos | |
Rep. Michael McCarthy | |
Rep. Michael Morgan | |
Rep. Thomas Oliver | |
Rep. Curt Taylor | |
Rep. Chris Taylor | |
Rep. Casey Toof | |
Rep. Matt Walker | |
Senate | |
Sen. Randy Brock | |
Sen. Dick Mazza | |
Sen. Robert Norris | |
Sen. Robert Starr | |
Sen. Richard Westman | |
Sen. Irene Wrenner |
Otter Creek
House | |
Rep. Joseph Andriano | |
Rep. Thomas Burditt | |
Rep. Tesha Buss | |
Rep. William Canfield | |
Rep. Robin Chesnut-Tangerman | |
Rep. Paul Clifford | |
Rep. Peter Conlon | |
Rep. James Harrison | |
Rep. Mary Howard | |
Rep. Stephanie Jerome | |
Rep. Eric Maguire | |
Rep. Patricia McCoy | |
Rep. Logan Nicoll | |
Rep. William Notte | |
Rep. Arthur Peterson | |
Rep. Mike Rice | |
Rep. Jarrod Sammis | |
Rep. Butch Shaw | |
Rep. Kirk White | |
Senate | |
Sen. Christopher Bray | |
Sen. Brian Campion | |
Sen. Alison Clarkson | |
Sen. Brian Collamore | |
Sen. Ruth Hardy | |
Sen. Dick McCormack | |
Sen. Dick Sears | |
Sen. David Weeks | |
Sen. Becca White | |
Sen. Terry Williams |
Request for Proposal:
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.