NEK Broadband

The Internet You Need ~ Built by Your Community

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NEK Broadband receives ReConnect 17.5 Million Award

In May NEK Broadband was the first entity in the U.S. Northeast to receive a grant from the USDA’s ReConnect program of $17.5 million to provide internet for parts of NEK’s 22 most rural towns.  Check out this map [LINK}, that the funding is going to cover most of Essex County. 

The network we’ll be building starting next year will include getting fiber cable all the way to your home, and a free router to go inside it!. Where we start building will depend on a number of factors, including demonstrated interest from towns that are covered by the grant.  So, encourage your fellow residents to pre-register at get.nekbroadband.org. 

For those not covered by the grant, this award means that any previous funding that we had designated for those rural areas can now be used for expanding our network plans in other towns.

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

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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