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Press Releases

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) 377-3721 
 
Tonya Ozone, Director of Sales and Marketing, NEKCV (802) 472-1190 
 

Washington, DC – In the ongoing efforts to bring high-speed internet access to all Americans, Vermont continues to provide leadership and insights on the national stage. The American Association for Public Broadband (AAPB) hosted its inaugural public broadband conference in partnership with New America Open Technology Institute (OTI) on May 14th-15th, bringing together leaders nationwide to discuss strategy and best practices, and engage in public broadband advocacy. 

A Vermonter was highlighted on each of the conference’s panel discussions. Ellie de Villiers, Executive Director of Maple Broadband and Chair of the Vermont Communications Union District Association (VCUDA); Christa Shute, Executive Director of NEKCV Broadband and Secretary of VCUDA, and Alex Kelley, Director of Broadband Consulting for the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) covered subjects ranging from building a successful broadband network, to sharing key aspects of a good public-private partnership, and wide-ranging policy topics. 

“Vermont’s public broadband-first strategy via its communications union districts provides a bold model for advancing the public interest, and we appreciate the insights

Vermont brings to the nationwide conversation about the practicalities of building, supporting, and providing strong governance for public networks,” stated Gigi Sohn, Executive Director of AAPB and former nominee for the Federal Communications Commission. 

Following the conference, some attendees met with offices of both Republican and Democratic members of Congress to discuss barriers and opportunities related to ensuring that all Americans have access to reliable, high-speed, affordable internet service. Across the board, Representatives and Senators expressed interest in and support for public broadband and its crucial role in getting high speed, reliable, affordable internet to all Americans. That experience emphasized that broadband is one of a relatively small number of non-partisan issues. 

Some key themes emerged from the conference: the importance of effective competition, access to high-speed internet in rural areas, and the degree to which broadband contributes to economic development. Universal high-speed access enables data-driven efficiencies such as smart metering for electrical utilities, as well as services such as telehealth, which can facilitate delivery of certain services faster, with more efficiency, and lower costs than in person alternatives. 

“It was truly encouraging to meet with and hear both Republican and Democratic Senators and Representatives agree with the ongoing importance of public funds for broadband infrastructure,” stated Shute, adding, “There are true benefits to building infrastructure within the state to help replace failing copper DSL infrastructure that form the base for public safety. Investing in public infrastructure further ensures that those public funds will contribute to the public good for generations.” 

According to de Villiers, the event emphasized the importance of efficient and effective use of funding, and the knowledge, skills, and governance required to do so. Fiber-optic networks, such as those being built by the CUDs, are a particularly good long-term investment because in comparison to other technologies, well-designed fiber networks will last for decades with lower costs to upgrade or maintain. “Using public funds efficiently and effectively, and focusing on the long-term total cost of ownership is particularly critical in areas where low population density and/or incomes makes private investment challenging,” said de Villiers. 

The conference also highlighted the fact that despite significant investments especially since COVID, rural broadband is still an issue all across the country. “If you can build broadband in a state as rural as Vermont, you can do it anywhere. I’m thrilled to see Vermont continue to be a national leader, because the battle to bring great broadband to every rural area is far from over. For communities with connectivity gaps, it’s never too late to explore how to take charge of your connectivity future,” stated Kelley.


About Maple Broadband: Maple Broadband is a Communications Union District (CUD) based in Addison County and is a local, community-governed internet service provider. Maple Broadband’s mission is to ensure that every on-grid address that it serves, in member towns, has access to high-speed fiber-optic broadband service supported by prompt, skilled, helpful customer service. CUDs are not-for-profit, municipal entities and cannot tax their member towns or the residents of those towns. A CUD must fund its network construction and operations through grants, loans, donations, and subscriptions. 

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About NEK Community Broadband dba NEKCV: NEK Community Broadband dba NEKCV is a Communications Union District (CUD) that is community-driven and working to ensure every resident across 71 towns in the northeast and central Vermont with utility service has access to high-speed internet with symmetrical speeds up to 2 gigabits per second. Affordable internet is central to creating greater economic prosperity and educational opportunities. The communications union district is committed to investing profits into the network, increasing affordability and supporting digital access and literacy. nekcv.org 

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The American Association for Public Broadband proudly represents community-owned broadband networks and co-ops that are fueling the nation’s economic future through reliable high-speed internet access. With more than 400+ networks serving nearly 800 communities across 33 states, public––or municipal broadband––is answering America’s call for reliable, affordable, and accessible internet for all. Visit AAPB.us to learn more. 

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The Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) believes in the potential of rural communities, and that rural people should have the same access to opportunities in the tech economy. As a national nonprofit, CORI uses data-driven research, partnerships, programming, and investment to support and connect rural leaders as they build inclusive tech ecosystems in rural America.

Filed Under: Press Releases

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 Broadband Board (VCBB) is pleased to announce the availability of $8 million in additional funds for the state’s broadband buildout. The money is interest earned on initial American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money that the General Assembly entrusted to the Vermont Community Broadband Fund. VCBB will be developing proposals on the best use of the $8 million for the Board’s consideration in the near future. 

“The VCBB is excited for this additional $8 million in funds. The Board and staff will work carefully and extensively with partners to leverage these funds to ensure the sustainability, affordability, and longevity of Vermont’s community broadband expansion efforts enacted under Act 71,” said VCBB Board Chair Patty Richards. 

These funds come shortly after VCBB has awarded nearly all of the state’s ARPA Capital Projects Fund (CPF) funds to Vermont Communications Union Districts (CUDs) and internet service providers. $241 million has now been granted to fulfill Universal Service Plans and ensure that every Vermonter has access to broadband. All of Vermont’s CUDs have now received construction funds. 

“Vermonters are seeing tremendous progress. We’ve already funded service to more than 30,000 homes and businesses, and we won’t stop until everyone in the state is connected. These additional funds will be used to help provide access for struggling Vermonters,” said VCBB Executive Director Christine Hallquist.

The most recent grants were awarded this fall to Maple Broadband, Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom (WCVT), NEKCV, and Chittenden County CUD. NEKCV was granted $4.3 million in ARPA funds, as well as $21 million in funds to match federal grants. 

“The latest grants from the VCBB will enable NEK Community Broadband dba NEKCV to leverage additional future federal dollars. The VCBB has provided the foundational support that has enabled our communications union district to build public infrastructure in over 50 towns, offer service to over 6,000 addresses with thousands more being able to access service within the next few months, and serve over 1,200 customers with fiber optic based symmetrical speeds up to 2 gig a bit per second,” said NEKCV Executive Director Christa Shute. 

Chittenden County CUD was awarded $2.1 million, and WCVT was awarded $600,000. ARPA CPF provided $10 billion in federal funds to states and territories for critical capital projects that enable work, education, and health monitoring in response to the pandemic. 

The next major federal funding opportunity for broadband is the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Vermont has been allocated $229 million, which will be awarded to internet service providers next year after a competitive bid process. VCBB is confident that the funding will be enough to finish Vermont’s broadband buildout. 

For more information about the Broadband Construction Grant Program and to see a list of grantees, go to the VCBB funding dashboard.

Filed Under: Press Releases

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 held an event on October 30th to celebrate four major grant awards: two from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA-RD) and two from the Vermont Communications Broadband Board.  

Sarah Waring, USDA State Director for Rural Development (RD) in Vermont and New Hampshire, announced that NEK Broadband, in a highly competitive national competition, was awarded $2,847,276 through the USDA Community Connect Grant program to bring fiber-optic high speed internet, to every unserved address in Groton, Vermont.  The town of Groton qualified for the grant because no residential address had 10 Mbps service, soon they will have access to service that includes symmetrical upload and download speeds of 100 Mbps to 2 Gigabit per second.  NEK Broadband won this grant for Groton based on an outpouring of support including more than 30 letters of support from businesses, municipal organizations, agencies, and other partners and supporters from across the region and state. Also, over 40 residents have expressed interest in potentially volunteering for at least one hour a week to help staff & support the Community Center/HUB that will be established under the grant. 

The announcement was made at a celebration event held at the NEK Broadband warehouse in Island Pond, VT, to mark the first customer to receive service as a result of a $17,463,911 USDA ReConnect grant awarded to bring service to every town in Essex County and towns in eastern Orleans and eastern Caledonia county.  Christa Shute, Executive Director of NEK Broadband, stated that the design and field collection across the 25 towns is well under way and the construction of the 351 mile project is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2025 and last through 2026.  

Shute remarked, “The USDA-RD has been and remains a critical source of funding to help fulfill our mission of bringing service to the many thousands of unserved in our 71 town district. The areas served by these two grants represent a large portion of the district that has less than six people per mile.“  NEK Broadband’s first customer under this ReConnect grant stated: “Now that NEK Broadband has been installed, we can not only work from home without any concerns about connectivity and speed, but we can turn our home into a smart home for the energy savings and security we want, connect with friends and family, and do so many more things that were previously unavailable to us before this upgrade.” 

“We are thrilled to partner with NEK Broadband to make high-speed internet a reality for communities that have waited too long for adequate service,” said Waring. “This investment in rural broadband is critical to ensuring that all Vermonters have the tools to succeed, especially in today’s digital economy.”

Senator Peter Welch joined Sarah Waring and Christa Shute, NEK Broadband’s executive director, at the announcement ceremony. The senator is Chair of the Rural Development and Energy Subcommittee. “The last few years have shown all of us how important high-speed broadband is. From online school and remote work to telemedicine, a good connection is essential,” said Senator Welch. 

“Receipt of the Community Connect Grant is collective testament to our residents, town officials, and regional & state organizations coming together to collaboratively address the fundamental need of getting broadband to the region,” added Michael Gaiss, Groton’s primary representative on the Governing Board of NEK Broadband. “This critical investment will significantly impact the livelihoods, health, and public safety of our rural community for years to come.”

According to a Groton community survey about the potential benefits of having high-speed internet, completed in 2023, having the ability to work from home more frequently and effectively was a need indicated by many residents. Survey respondents embraced new opportunities that would be available for students: utilizing online learning platforms for advanced placement, broader curriculum choices, and earning college credits. Access to telehealth resources was important to many others. 

Rob Fish, Deputy Director of the VCBB announced at the event two recent grant awards to NEK Broadband approved by the board on September 30th.  The first is an additional $4 million construction grant and the second is a $21 million grant to be used as a match for, and contingent upon, a Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) grant.  The pre-application for BEAD grants opens late this year with the final application deadline in the spring of 2025.  While it will still be a number of years before the entire project is complete, this latest grant funding will, according to Shute, serve the areas most in need and is critical to the overall success of the project. 

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About NEK Community Broadband dba NEKCV

NEK Community Broadband dba NEKCV is a community-driven organization working to ensure every resident across 71 towns in northeast and central Vermont with utility service has access to high-speed internet with speeds up to 2 gigabits per second. Affordable internet is central to creating greater economic prosperity and educational opportunities. The communications union district is committed to investing profits into the network, increasing affordability and supporting digital access and literacy. 

Filed Under: Press Releases

CVFiber Announces 500th Customer Connected

September 30, 2024

For immediate release, September 27, 2024

CVFiber reached a milestone yesterday as their 500th customer was connected to fiber-optic high-speed internet in the town of Worcester. Since the ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating their first customer, CVFiber has achieved a huge accomplishment of bringing service to 500 homes and businesses in one year. The focus of their mission is on locations that currently only have access to slow internet or no access at all. 

The 500th customers, Karen and Brian Wiseman, owners of Peaceful Harvest Mushrooms, LLC, expressed their appreciation, “As a small business, we have been struggling for years with unbelievably slow internet that we paid a whole lot of money to an enormous corporation every month. What we really need is high-speed, high-quality internet at an affordable price. The fact that CVFiber is a local enterprise and keeps more of our dollars in Vermont makes it even better. A big thank you.”  

CVFiber connects with communities in ways other internet businesses aren’t known for. On June 20th, a reception was held in Worcester to provide a forum for residents’ questions about fiber optic technology, the installation process and whatever else was on their minds. “Getting to know our customers personally this way helps us understand their needs better,” says Christa Shute, executive director.

Allen Gilbert, who is the board representative for Worcester, has found that with more people connected to high-speed internet in town, even local meetings have benefited. He reports, “For young families with children in our school, parents find it easier to be involved because meetings can be offered online and they don’t have to leave the house.” 

Currently site surveys and installations are continuing apace in parts of Calais, East Montpelier, Middlesex, Worcester, and Woodbury. To find out if any specific location has access, go to cvfiber.net. 

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. CVFiber covers the twenty towns of Barre City, Barre Town, Berlin, Cabot, Calais, Duxbury, East Montpelier, Middlesex, Marshfield, Montpelier, Moretown, Northfield, Orange, Plainfield, Roxbury, Washington, Waterbury, Williamstown, Woodbury, and Worcester. CVFiber is part of NEKCV a communications union district covering the CVFiber towns and the 51 towns of NEK Broadband.  Learn more at CVFiber’s website.  

Filed Under: News, Press Releases

Peacham Cafe Celebrates Becoming NEK Broadband’s 500th Customer

August 30, 2024

DANVILLE – A dream has come true for the little Cafe in the center of the village of Peacham. The new WiFi provided through NEK Broadband provides access to high-speed internet for customers and for those who don’t yet have it available at their home. 

According to Cafe board member, Betsy McKay, “This Cafe exists because of community support to renovate the space. In addition, Friends of the Cafe supports it annually to keep the rent low, as well as pay monthly bills such as electricity, phone and internet. We are pleased to collaborate with NEK Broadband to provide reliable internet in our community space.”

The parallels between the community focus of the Peacham Cafe and NEK Broadband are strong. Every town in the Kingdom has a community representative on the Board of Governors. Ideas are discussed and decisions made, not just by staff, but by board members, as well.  

For NEK Broadband, reaching this milestone of 500 customers in August, after the 400th customer came online in July, represents more than just numbers. It is a sign that the idea of Communication Union Districts in Vermont works. We’ve moved far beyond the initial planning stages begun a few short years ago. The organization is successfully partnering with the Vermont companies hanging the fiber-optic lines on utility poles and installing the routers in homes. We’ve also set up the business systems to make sign-up and billing easy to understand.

Expansion will continue through the fall and winter months, as usual. The next few years will see many, many more people throughout the Kingdom connected to the educational, business, information, and fun resources they need. Additional funding sources for the expansion of the network are available and actively being applied for. The warehouse lot is packed with reels of fiber-optic line ready to be hung on utility poles. There are hundreds and hundreds of miles left to build and all the pieces are in place to succeed.

The place to find out whether service is already available at your location is get.nekbroadband.org. 

Filed Under: Press Releases

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

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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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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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