Underground Policy

Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) has a new program to help Vermonters afford to get connected to broadband. The Affordable Long Drop Program will provide grants to eligible providers to cover connection costs for long or nonstandard drops, including underground installations. Click here to learn more.

It is NEK Broadband’s Company Policy to comply with the National Electric and Safety Codes, as well as the specifications of the manufacturers of cable, equipment and systems within the telecommunications industry.

In general, NEK Broadband’s construction is overhead, placed on jointly used power poles. Our policy is to pay for the first 500 feet of aerial construction.

After 500 feet the customer would pay $1.75 per additional foot of aerial installation. We do not cover conduit and conduit is 100% the responsibility of the customer.

In the event that an aerial installation to the home is not possible, a NEK Broadband technician will determine whether there is any existing conduit that can be used to install the fiber optic cable instead. If not, the customer will have to arrange and pay for underground installation.

If the customer decides to do the installation themselves, these conduit guidelines must be followed. We have also put together a list of contractors who are willing to do underground conduit installations (see table below). If you choose a contractor who is not on the list, please have them contact us at 802-496-8902 or so they can meet our specifications. If you have any questions about underground installation, or if you have recently gotten underground conduit installed and need to notify us that it has been done, please contact us at that same number, 802-496-8902, or email .