NEK Broadband

The Internet You Need ~ Built by Your Community

Press Releases

NEK Broadband Joined Senator Welch as He Unveiled a Bill to Extend the Affordable Connectivity Program  for Internet Service

NEK Broadband, a leading provider of high-speed internet service in the Northeast Kingdom, joined Senator Welch (D-VT), a co-sponsor of the  ‘Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024’, and others in support of this bill.

The extension would provide $7 billion for the Affordable Connectivity Program. This effort is pivotal  to ensure affordable and reliable internet access is accessible to all. Without congressional intervention, the ACP’s current budget will be exhausted by the end of April amid rising demand for benefits.

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), championed by Senator Welch, is an urgent initiative designed to make broadband services more affordable for low-income households. NEK Broadband recognizes the importance of connectivity in today’s digital age and is committed to supporting this program to enhance accessibility to the internet for under-served communities.

“Access to affordable and reliable internet is crucial for education, telemedicine, job opportunities, and overall community development. By working together, we aim to make a meaningful impact in closing the digital divide and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the digital era,” said Christa Shute, CEO of NEK Broadband. “As the most rural Communications Union District in Vermont, including three of the four counties with the lowest per capita income” noted Shute, “reducing the cost of maintaining internet service is vital. This important act to extend the Affordable Connectivity Program will provide time to create more lasting solutions.”

“The ACP is critical for rural Vermont. Losing it would leave these Vermonters in digital darkness. These areas are not served today because it is too expensive, and existing providers would lose money. The cost to serve these rural areas is five times what it costs to serve existing areas. These areas also have significantly higher numbers of low-income families,” according to Christine Hallquist, Executive Director of the Vermont Community Broadband Board.

“Access to high-speed internet isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. And staying connected has never been more important, especially for rural communities here in Vermont,” said Sen. Welch. “It was great to speak with broadband leaders and community action agencies that have played a crucial role helping families take advantage of the Affordable Connectivity Program about the importance of extending this program, which has made broadband affordable for more than 25,000 Vermont households in just two years. We are grateful for the support and dedication of these agencies and leaders in helping Vermont families access high-speed internet. Folks in Vermont and across the country rely on a strong internet connection every day, and now they’re relying on Congress to pass the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act.” 

This collaboration exemplifies the power of public-private partnerships in addressing critical issues such as digital inclusion. NEK Broadband looks forward to working closely with Senator Welch and other stakeholders to create meaningful and lasting impacts on the communities it serves.

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 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. 

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

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 

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NEK BROADBAND ANNOUNCES NEW HIRES

Northeast Kingdom, Vermont–NEK Broadband announced two new hires today:  Marc Hughes as the district’s Operations Project Manager, and Erik Townsend as the organization’s GIS Specialist and Project Manager. 

NEK Broadband is a Communications Union District (CUD) that includes every town in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, plus Wolcott. A community non-profit, the organization is working to bring reliable high-speed broadband to the region, and is planning to offer service in portions of 90% of its member towns by the end of 2024. The foundation, or “backbone” of this fiber-optic network is currently being built.

“Both Marc and Erik bring a high level of expertise to NEK Broadband,” said Executive Director Christa Shute. “Their decades of experience and perspective will be invaluable to the organization as we work to accelerate our delivery of high-speed internet to our communities.” 

Hughes spent nearly twenty-five years in Operations Management with Verizon Wireless and Unicel, serving states across the northeast.  An Army veteran and former E-3 Senior Airman in the 282nd Combat Communications Squadron, his technical training comes courtesy of the US Air Force Ground Radio School, and he brings over three decades of telecommunications experience to the organization. 

“I’m looking forward to bringing my skills to the NEK Broadband district,” said Hughes.  “I’m excited to work on bringing broadband to the underserved in the region.”

Erik Townsend comes to NEK Broadband with 15 years of GIS experience in the Natural Resources and Forestry professions, earning a Geographic Information Systems Professional Certification in 2015. As a native of the Northeast Kingdom, he is excited to be part of an organization whose mission is to help serve the community where he’s spent most of his life. Prior to becoming an employee, Erik was the district’s board member representing the town of Westmore where he is also a Lister, E911 Coordinator, and Tree Warden.

“I’m proud to be part of an organization bringing high-speed internet to the area,” said Townsend. “Bridging the digital divide is key to thriving rural communities, schools, and businesses.”

Residents of the Northeast Kingdom and Wolcott are encouraged to complete the form at get.nekbroadband.org to pre-order internet service and receive updates.