NEK Broadband

The Internet You Need ~ Built by Your Community

News

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. 

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 NEK 2023-06

Fiber Distribution Construction

Please contact us at  . for bid sheets, maps, etc. Maps are available to those who have returned a signed confidentiality agreement.

RFP: Fiber Distribution Construction

Deadlines:

Questions Due: 8/28/23

Intent to Respond is REQUIRED and is due by 8/28/23

Proposal Submission Deadline: 8/30/23

Express Your Support

In the next week, the state operated Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) is seeking public input to guide how they will allocate 150-250 million dollars for fiber-optic fast internet development in Vermont. 

By next Tues, June 20, VCBB needs to hear your story of how you have coped with your internet situation and that you want fiber internet developed by non-profit Communications Union Districts (CUDs) like NEK Broadband, not corporations. That way, the infrastructure will be publicly owned (you have a “say” because our Board is made up of town Reps) and any “profits” will go to expanding the network and making it more affordable, not to shareholders. NEK Broadband is also the only entity committed to getting broadband access to every household in the NEK and Wolcott – not just to profitable customers.  

Can we count on you to express your support for NEK Broadband – your CUD – by communicating to the VCBB?  Please write a quick email (to ), make a quick call (802-622-4496) or attend an in-person or virtual listening session that VCBB is sponsoring before June 20th! Questions?  Email us at

Here are some talking points:

  • Express support for the communications union district, stakeholders – not shareholders.
  • Share your story of your experience with internet in the NEK
  • Give any ideas you have of how to make internet more accessible to everyone, especially those from disadvantaged groups (because of ability, language barriers, etc)

Here are the options to give input into the process:

  • write an email (send to ), 
  • Answer an extensive survey of questions from VCBB
  • call VCBB (800-622-4496) or  802 261 5756
  • Virtual meeting is Thursday 6/15 at 6:30pm.  
  • Attend an in-person session in Newport or Burke:
    • The Newport event is on Monday June 19th from 6:30-7:30pm at the Goodrich Memorial Library (202 Main St./US 5, Newport, VT) $20 gas card and food
    • The Burke event is Thursday June 22nd from 6:30pm to 7:30pm at the Burke Community Building (212 School Street, West Burke, VT) $20 gas card and food

Request for Proposal: Contracted IT Support Services 

Contracted IT Support Services 

The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit proposals from qualified vendors to provide contracted IT support services for NEK Broadband. The goal of this project is to establish a reliable and responsive IT support system for our remote workforce, ensuring seamless business operations and employee productivity.

RFP: IT Support Services