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The Internet You Need ~ Built by Your Community

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News

NEK Broadband Customer Outage Notification (PM edition)

July 31, 2024

With some utility poles set, we are in the process of putting in temporary connections through a stretch on Severance Hill Road in Lyndonville. This will help bring light back to the Lyndon and Sutton cabinets to bring service back to the majority of impacted customers.

With the immediate weather condition changing to heavy rain with thunderstorm activity and a high volume of heavy equipment delivering material to the site, restoration progress will continue tomorrow morning. We anticipate that service will be restored for many by around noon tomorrow.

A handful of customers on nearby distribution lines will take a longer period of time to restore as we wait for additional infrastructure to be built back to attach our fiber.

Thank you for your patience.  Please stay safe as we help neighbors help neighbors. 

Sincerely,

The NEK Broadband team

Filed Under: News, Uncategorized

NEK Broadband Customer Outage Notification

July 31, 2024

We have an outage affecting approximately 125 customers in the Lyndon, Sutton, Wheelock, Kirby, St. J, and Danville areas, as well as small parts of Walden, Burke and Concord that began at 9 am today. Yesterday’s torrential rains devastated the area with homes and roads being washed away and literally into the backbone of our fiber network. Today’s emergency cleanup and excavation work is impacting fiber service. Our crews are working to determine solutions as the infrastructure (poles) itself is no longer in place.

We are diligently working on getting service back up and running as quickly as possible – however the area has suffered major damage and we do not currently know the restoration time. Our website and social media will be updated as progress is made. Potentially impacted customers will also receive email notifications with updates. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

HERE is a link to the area where the fiber has been cut. 

Sincerely,

The NEK Broadband Team

Filed Under: News, Uncategorized

Community-based Broadband Providers Propose Merger to Expand Access to High-speed Internet

June 1, 2024

June 1, 2024 – NEK Broadband and CVFiber announce a preliminary plan to join the two Communications Union Districts (CUDs) under 30 V.S.A 3052a, a recent addition to the law under S.199. The proposed merger would unite resources, experience, expertise, and a shared commitment to deliver exceptional high-speed internet services to their collective 71 communities. Working together, they will be better able to support digital equity, economic growth, and community development across the Northeast Kingdom and Central Vermont.

Working more collaboratively allows the CUDs to leverage infrastructure investments effectively, accelerate the deployment of proven and reliable technologies, and optimize operational efficiencies. This will significantly add to the ongoing capacity to fulfill the combined mission to ensure that every resident and business has access to reliable high-speed internet. 

Specifically, NEK Broadband and CVFiber propose to work together under the new business name, Northeast Central Broadband. The service plans, customer service, and pricing for both CVFiber and NEK Broadband areas will not change for the foreseeable future. Their respective financial, operations, and communications professionals will share skill sets. An additional benefit will be collaboration for grant applications that often benefit from a larger service area.

During this process, the CUDs are committed to providing transparent communications to keep customers, partners, and communities informed every step of the way. 

Public Comment Period 

  • Copies of the Preliminary Merger Plan (the “Plan”) were distributed to the legislative bodies of NEK Broadband’s and CVFiber’s respective municipalities on June 1st.  Both CUDs will arrange for notice of the July 16th public hearing by distributing such notice to their member municipalities, publicly posting such notice, and publishing notice in local newspapers and other paid media. These notices will be made no later than three days before the public hearing. 
  • NEK Broadband and CVFiber will each hold a public hearing on the Plan. Public hearings will be scheduled by each CUD for July 16, 2024. 

Final Merger Plan Decision

  • NEK Broadband and CVFiber will schedule Governing Board votes on the Final Merger Plan no less than 30 days after the public hearing. Governing Board votes for the Final Merger Plan decision are scheduled by each CUD for August 15, 2024. 

For more information, please visit our website: nekbroadband.org/about-us/public-documents/

Direct inquiries can be sent to:

About NEK Broadband: NEK Broadband is a community-driven organization working to ensure every resident in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont has access to high-speed internet. Access to high-speed internet is central to creating greater economic prosperity and educational opportunities for today’s residents and for future generations. NEK Broadband is a Communications Union District (CUD) representing every town in Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties, plus Wolcott in Lamoille county. With a commitment to reliability and community development, NEK Broadband strives to make a positive impact on the lives of those we serve. www.nekbroadband.org

About CVFiber: As a community-owned and operated Internet service provider, CVFiber is serving its 20 Central Vermont communities with a unified goal to provide fast, reliable, and world-class Internet to every Vermonter within its member towns.  In partnership with Waitsfield & Champlain Valley Telecom, which operates the network and interacts with its customers, CVFiber is equipped to meet the growing needs of Vermonters as it expands into new district zones. Twenty communities are a part of the CVFiber district: Barre City, Barre Town, Berlin, Cabot, Calais, Duxbury, East Montpelier, Middlesex, Marshfield, Montpelier, Moretown, Northfield, Orange, Plainfield, Roxbury, Washington, Waterbury, Williamstown, Woodbury, and Worcester. Learn more at CVFiber’s website.  

Filed Under: Press Releases

NEK Broadband and North Country Career Center Launch New Job Training Program

April 4, 2024

Newport, VT– April 3rd, 2024 – In a joint venture to develop needed skilled workers,
NEK Broadband and North Country Career Center have created a training program for
Broadband Network Technicians beginning May 8,2024. As NEK Broadband expands
its new fiber optic internet network, technical job openings already exist.
The three-week course will include basic rigging, fiber optics essentials, bucket truck
operations, pole climbing, OSHA training, first aid with CPR and AED, flagging,
leadership and communication. The program is designed to impart both technical skills
and soft skills, ensuring participants are well-prepared to succeed. In Vermont, the
majority of Fiber Optic Technician salaries currently range between $22.98/hour to
$33.46 and often include additional benefits.

To learn about a career in the network construction industry, please attend the
information night, April 17th, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at: North Country Career Center, 209
Veterans Avenue, Newport, Vermont. The fee for the course can be discussed as well as
potential for full financial support. You can learn more and register for the April event
at: https://nc3.ncsuvt.org/adult-courses/broadband-network-construction-technician-training
This strategic partnership between two important Northeast Kingdom organizations
represents a significant step forward toward economic prosperity for the region. The
lack of reliable high-speed internet in underserved areas has created a digital divide
between those who can access education and online work opportunities and those who
can’t.

“We are thrilled to launch this new initiative, which embodies our unwavering
commitment to empowering individuals and strengthening communities. By providing
access to high-quality training, mentorship, and current employment opportunities, we
believe we can help provide a way for people to stay in the Kingdom as they find work
that pays a living wage,” said Christa Shute, NEK Broadband’s Executive Director.
Chris Damato, Assistant Director for Adult Technical Education at North Country
Career Center, points out the need for this training, “There is so much opportunity, both
in the short term with network construction, as well as the long term with ongoing
network maintenance and customer service. Any time there is a power outage, there
may be a broadband outage and similar to electrical line workers, broadband network
technicians will be out there to restore service to folks who rely on the internet for their
livelihood.”

Other opportunities at North Country Career Center can be found at
https://nc3.ncsuvt.org/home, or contact Chris Damato at 802-334-5469 X3305

About NEK Broadband

NEK Broadband is a community-driven organization working to ensure every resident
in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont has access to high-speed internet. Affordable
internet is central to creating greater economic prosperity and educational opportunities
for today’s residents and for future generations. NEK Broadband is a Communications
Union District (CUD) representing every town in Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans
counties, plus Wolcott in Lamoille county.
Visit our website to learn more about the career opportunities we offer.
www.nekbroadband.org/careers/

Filed Under: Press Releases

Request for Proposal:

April 2, 2024

The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit proposals from qualified vendors to provide a bid for Fiber Construction. Proposal Submission Deadline: 4/11/2024.

View RFP

Filed Under: News, Uncategorized

2023 Annual Report

February 19, 2024

NEK Broadband has prepared and distributed an Annual Report and Budget for 2023.

2023 Annual Report

Filed Under: News

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Announcements

NATIONAL LEADERS LEARN FROM VERMONT’S RURAL BROADBAND STRATEGIES 

May 20, 2025

For Immediate Release May 20, 2025 Contact:  Ellie de Villiers, Executive Director, Maple Broadband (802) … read more about NATIONAL LEADERS LEARN FROM VERMONT’S RURAL BROADBAND STRATEGIES 

Additional $8 Million Available for Vermont’s Broadband Buildout

November 21, 2024

Funds Added as VCBB Completes Distribution of Nearly $245M from ARPA  Montpelier, Vermont – Vermont Community … read more about Additional $8 Million Available for Vermont’s Broadband Buildout

NEK Broadband Receives a USDA Community Connect Grant for Groton as it Launches its USDA ReConnect Grant across 25 towns

October 31, 2024

Island Pond, VT – NEK Community Broadband dba NEKCV, a communications union district in northeast and central Vermont … read more about NEK Broadband Receives a USDA Community Connect Grant for Groton as it Launches its USDA ReConnect Grant across 25 towns

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P.O. Box 4012
St. Johnsbury, Vermont 05819

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Partial funding for development of this website made possible by a Rural Business Development Grant through the Northern Community Investment Corporation from USDA Rural Development.



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