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FIVE TOWNS COMMIT ARPA FUNDS TO BUILD HIGH-SPEED INTERNET

FIVE TOWNS COMMIT ARPA FUNDS TO BUILD HIGH-SPEED INTERNET 

Rural Collaboration Brings Broadband to Neighboring Communities Sooner 

Northeast Kingdom, Vermont – Select boards in Groton, Hardwick, Peacham, Ryegate, and  Walden have voted to allocate a total of $328,050 in American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”)  funding towards constructing additional high-speed broadband infrastructure within their  communities. 

The funds pledged by the five Caledonia County towns will be matched by both NEK Broadband  and the Vermont Community Broadband Board (“VCBB”). The combined total of $984,150 will accelerate the construction of the initial framework of infrastructure referred to as the  “backbone” of the project. By building the backbone sooner than planned, NEK Broadband  expects to bring new high-speed internet to portions of 90% of the towns in the Northeast  Kingdom over the next two years. The ARPA funding also enables NEK Broadband to build new  infrastructure sooner to three additional towns: Danville, Lyndon, and Saint Johnsbury.  

“This milestone of town participation could not have been possible without the support and  engagement provided by our board members in Peacham, Groton, Ryegate, Walden, and  Hardwick,” says Christa Shute, Executive Director. “We’re grateful to them for continued  advocacy of NEK Broadband’s initiatives within their towns. It’s a perfect example of how a  shared vision and strong-rooted sense of community can gain momentum, propelling a  grassroots organization into action at the local level.” 

NEK Broadband’s ARPA program has given towns the ability to invest in constructing additional  miles of fiber on some side roads at the same time as the backbone, saving time and money.  Once the backbone is complete, the next areas of construction will be determined using  objective criteria including grant funding obligations, existing infrastructure within each town,  and numbers of priority addresses as identified by the state. Priority addresses are those where  school-aged children or people using telehealth services reside. These addresses were provided by schools, health care facilities, individual households, and other state agencies trying  to provide services to their clientele throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Groton 

Groton is contributing $40,800 of its ARPA funds to accelerate line construction, bringing  service to an estimated 125 premises. 67 of those do not currently have any broadband internet,  and 14 have been identified as priority addresses. Groton’s investment brought the fiber line  into neighborhoods that were close enough to the town border with Ryegate that they also  became eligible to participate in NEK Broadband’s ARPA program.  

Ryegate 

Ryegate is contributing a total of $76,000. The fiber internet service will reach 68 households,  58 without broadband internet, five of which are priority addresses.  

Peacham  

Peacham contributed $30,000 to accelerate providing broadband to 165 premises in Peacham.  72 of those currently do not have broadband internet, including 14 priority addresses.  

Walden 

Walden contributed $40,000 to help build the equipment cabinet that will serve the entire town.  Initial service on the backbone will include much of Route 15 through town plus some adjacent  roads. It’ll reach 168 addresses, 54 of which are without broadband internet. 10 of those are  priority addresses.  

Hardwick 

The Hardwick ARPA contribution is the largest to date at $139,500. The contribution will reach  four underserved areas in rural parts of Hardwick, covering 114 addresses without broadband  internet, and 162 total addresses.  

At a May press conference, Governor Phil Scott announced that NEK Broadband had been  awarded a nearly $16 million Construction Grant, the first Communications Union District of nine in  the state to receive one. On July 22, an amendment adding $5 million to the original grant was  announced. The organization had already received $8.25 million to support material purchases  to deliver its fiber optic cable-based internet to residents and businesses in the Northeast  Kingdom and Wolcott. 

To learn more, stay up-to-date, and sign up for service once it’s available, residents throughout  the Northeast Kingdom and Wolcott are encouraged to register at get.nekbroadband.org. NEK  Broadband will provide ongoing updates to all those who have registered, as well as through  local media outlets.  

NEK Broadband Awarded Nearly $16M Construction Grant

Hardwick, Vermont –  NEK Broadband celebrates the announcement of a nearly $16M Construction Grant from the Act 71 Broadband Construction Program.  The Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) reviewed—and unanimously voted— last month to approve NEK Broadband’s construction grant request of $15,899,089, making it the first Communications Union District (CUD) in Vermont awarded through this program. 

The funding will allow the CUD to construct 215 miles of network, connecting 1,479 households along the way, explained Governing Board Chair Evan Carlson. “This is a watershed moment for our CUD,” said Carlson. “We are thrilled to now have the funds in hand to get construction underway.”  Early construction will be concentrated in Concord, Kirby and Waterford, with additional miles expected in Brighton, Burke, East Haven, Lyndon, Newark, Sutton and Wheelock. 

NEK Broadband is the first of nine CUDs in the state to be awarded this funding. The group has already received $8.25 million to support material purchases and pre-construction on up to 2,800 miles of fiber optic cable-based internet for residents and businesses in the Northeast Kingdom and Wolcott.

“The grant application process was rigorous and included thorough vetting from CTC, an independent consultant contracted by VCBB,” said Carlson in an email to the governing board. “It speaks volumes to the work of our team, and also establishes a path for other CUDs in the state. I’m personally inspired to see the NEK leading the way.”  

Executive Director Christa Shute notes that this grant was based on NEK Broadband’s Universal Service Plan. The goal of that plan is to provide each on-grid underserved 911 address within the Kingdom access to high-speed internet connectivity. Shute underscores the significance of this $16M being the first of $104M in expected grant funds of an estimated $185M project.  Shute expressed gratitude for the volunteer time, effort, and involvement from NEK Broadband board members, as well as all towns in Orleans, Caledonia, and Essex counties and Wolcott.

Residents throughout the Northeast Kingdom and Wolcott are encouraged to indicate their interest in subscribing at https://get.nekbroadband.org.  On the website, potential subscribers will provide an address and contact information, and complete a brief survey. NEK Broadband will provide ongoing updates to all those who have registered as well as through local media outlets.