News
This section includes a collection of relevant national broadband news as well as press releases from the VTA. For more news about broadband activities in Vermont, visit BroadbandVT.org, Vermont's broadband news resource.
Press Releases Listing
Vermont Telecom Authority Awards Broadband Grant to FairPoint
RELEASE DATE: September 4th, 2012
Montpelier - The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) has announced an award to FairPoint Communications in the amount of $330,200 to expand broadband services in 3 Vermont communities. An additional 44 locations in Barnet, Ryegate and Rochester will have access to broadband at speeds of 5 Mbps because of the project, meeting the grant’s requirement to offer a combined upload and download speed of 5 Mbps, with a minimum upload of 1 megabit per second. Additionally, the authority has been reviewing a vendor proposal from AMS Services to upgrade the Authority credit card billing systems with reduced transaction fees. The project is scheduled to be completed prior to December 31, 2013.
READ MOREVermont Telecom Authority Awards Broadband Grant to VTel Wireless
RELEASE DATE: September 4th, 2012
Montpelier- The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) has announced an award to VTel Wireless, of $1,347,840, to expand broadband services in 19 Vermont communities. An additional 306 locations in Arlington, Bennington, Braintree, Brattleboro, Chittenden, Corinth, Danville, Dover, Dummerston, Lyndon, Pittsford, Pownal, Putney, Randolph, Shaftsbury, St. Johnsbury, Westminister, Whitingham and Wilmington will have access to broadband at speeds of at least 5 Mbps meeting the grant’s requirement to offer a combined upload and download speed of 5 Mbps.
READ MOREVermont Telecom Authority Awards Broadband Grant to FairPoint
RELEASE DATE: September 4th, 2012
Montpelier - The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) has announced an award to FairPoint Communications in the amount of $330,200 to expand broadband services in 3 Vermont communities. An additional 44 locations in Barnet, Ryegate and Rochester will have access to broadband at speeds of 5 Mbps because of the project, meeting the grant’s requirement to offer a combined upload and download speed of 5 Mbps, with a minimum upload of 1 megabit per second. The project is scheduled to be completed prior to December 31, 2013.
READ MOREVTA Seeks Public Input on State Telecommunications Needs Post-2013
RELEASE DATE: August 28th, 2012
Montpelier — The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) is seeking public input on its work with telecommunications infrastructure in Vermont post-2013 in a Public Comment Session to be held over Vermont Interactive Television (VIT) on September 5, 2012 from 4-7 PM. Through this process, the VTA aims to gather information about the telecommunications industry as Vermonters experience it. Comments will be sought from the general public on how they see the telecommunications needs changing in Vermont, and what they think are the most important goals and objectives for th
READ MOREGovernor Shumlin and VTA Break Ground at Bethel Cellular Site
RELEASE DATE: August 1st, 2012
Montpelier, VT (August 1, 2012) – Gov. Peter Shumlin and the Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) announced today plans to construct a communications tower in Bethel that will expand mobile broadband and voice service on VT Route 12 and VT Route 107 in Bethel and connect back to existing coverage on I-89. To the south, it extends the coverage at the fork of VT Route 12 and VT Route 107. To the north, it extends the coverage at the intersection of VT Route 12 and Camp Brook Road. To the east, it connects to existing coverage on I-89.
READ MOREVermont FiberConnect Project hits milestone
RELEASE DATE: July 19th, 2012
BELLOWS FALLS, VT – July 19, 2012 Sovernet Fiber Corp. and the Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) announced today that the Vermont FiberConnect (VFC) project has recently completed constructing the first 100 miles of fiber optic network. This important milestone comes as the project heads into its final year, with completion of the 821 mile network scheduled for June 30, 2013.
READ MOREVTA Announces Orange County Fiber Connector Project
RELEASE DATE: June 28th, 2012
Montpelier - The Vermont Telecommunications Authority announced today that it will invest in the construction of fiber optic cable along key routes in Orange County and a neighboring portion of northern Windsor County. The VTA plans to build the fiber optic facility, approximately 36 miles in length, along State Routes 110, 113 and 132 in the Towns of Chelsea, Vershire, West Fairlee, Thetford, Strafford, and Sharon.
READ MOREVermont Telecom Authority Awards Comcast Broadband Grant
RELEASE DATE: June 27th, 2012
Montpelier - The Vermont Telecommunications Authority(VTA) has announced an award to cable service provider Comcastof $247,000 to expand broadband services in three Vermont communities. An additional 56 locations in Braintree, Shaftsbury and Pownal will have access to broadband at speeds up to 100 Mbps because of the project, substantially exceeding the grant’s minimum requirement to offer a combined upload and download speed of 5 Mbps.
READ MORETelecom Authority Awards Topsham Communications Broadband Grant
RELEASE DATE: June 27th, 2012
Montpelier - The Vermont Telecommunications Authority(VTA) has announced a $378,200 grant award to Topsham Communications, LLC. The company is a subsidiary of Topsham Telephone Company, Inc., which operates in the East Corinth area and traces its roots to 1907. The grant supports deployment of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband infrastructure over 36 miles in the Northeast Topsham and North Bradford communities.
READ MOREGov. Shumlin turns on new broadband service for north central Vermont
RELEASE DATE: June 6th, 2012
PLAINFIELD—Gov. Peter Shumlin and Karen Marshall, Chief of Connect Vermont, today announced the extension of broadband service to 4000 potential customers in north central Vermont from Cloud Alliance. A funding partnership between Cloud Alliance, the Vermont Telecommunications Authority and Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation made the build-out of four new tower sites in the network possible. The project provides for new service to homes and businesses in Woodbury, Hardwick and Wolcott and parts of Elmore, Greensboro, Walden and Cabot.
READ MOREVTA and CoverageCo Sign Contract for Improved Cellular Coverage
RELEASE DATE: June 1st, 2012
Montpelier, VT – The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) has signed a contract with wholesale cellular service provider CoverageCo of Cambridge, MA. Later this year, CoverageCo will provide cellular coverage in parts of rural northern Vermont previously unserved by carriers.
READ MOREVermont Telecommunications Authority Announces Availability of $3.6 Million in Grants for Broadband
RELEASE DATE: March 14th, 2012
Montpelier, Vermont (March 14, 2012) - The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) has announced a Notice of Grant Funds in the sum of $3.6 million for broadband expansion in Vermont. The purpose of the grants is to extend broadband service availability where it is currently not offered and where no provider has already committed to bring broadband by the end of 2013.
READ MOREVTA to Negotiate Contracts for Cellular Service Expansion
RELEASE DATE: December 1st, 2011
Montpelier — The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) has announced its intention to negotiate contracts with two companies for the purposes of expanding cellular service in unserved Target Corridors and Drop Zones.
READ MOREVTA TO FUND COOPERATIVE FIBER OPTIC PROJECT IN NORTHEAST KINGDOM
RELEASE DATE: November 23rd, 2011
The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) announced today its intention to fund a multi-provider fiber communications link between Newport and Hardwick. VTA funds in the amount of $500,000 for construction of the fiber link were authorized in Act 53 of the 2011-2012 legislative session. VTA intends to ensure that the design of the proposed facility will include fiber strands which can be used for middle-mile and last-mile broadband purposes, as called for in the authorizing legislation.
READ MOREStephan Morse Joins VTA Board
RELEASE DATE: November 22nd, 2011
Montpelier, Vermont - Stephan Morse, former Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives, recently accepted a seat on the Board of Directors of the Vermont Telecommunications Authority. Stephan re-joins the VTA after a brief hiatus. A lifelong Vermonter and resident of Newfane, he is highly engaged at the state and local levels in education, economic development, and as an Environmental Commissioner for the Act 250 Board. He also serves on several non-profit boards including Marlboro College and Grace Cottage Hospital.
READ MOREVTA Announces New Board Members
RELEASE DATE: September 13th, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Deb Shannon (802) 828-3224 Director of Broadband Outreach and Coordination Vermont Telecommunications Authority
READ MORETelecom Authority Seeks Public Comments on Broadband and Fiber
RELEASE DATE: September 9th, 2011
MONTPELIER - The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) seeks public input on issues affecting high-speed internet coverage in Vermont, and how the VTA can best support broadband expansion using state funds appropriated in its FY2012 capital appropriation. In addition to comments related to broadband generally, comments specifically on expansion of fiber optic facilities are also being solicited.
READ MOREVTA Announces Expansion of VTel Wireless 4G Wireless Service in Southeast Vermont
RELEASE DATE: August 8th, 2011
Montpelier — The Vermont Telecommunications Authority and VTel Wireless have reached an agreement regarding Target Communities selected to receive broadband services.
READ MOREVermont Telecommunications Authority Announces Recipients of Incentive Discounts for Last-Mile Providers
RELEASE DATE: July 18th, 2011
Montpelier, VT – The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) announced today that Southern Vermont Broadband Cooperative and Cloud Alliance, LLC, were selected to receive discounted commercial broadband connections on the Vermont FiberConnect network. Additional award announcements are expected in the coming weeks.
READ MOREState Seeking Input on Cellular Coverage
RELEASE DATE: June 24th, 2011
Virtually every Vermont cell phone user has experienced the frustration of dead zones and dropped calls as they travel throughout the state. These interruptions of service are not only frustrating; they also have negative ramifications for business, tourism and public safety.
READ MORECloud Alliance Receives Permit for Wireless Facilities Installation
RELEASE DATE: June 24th, 2011
On June 16th the Vermont Public Service Board issued a Certificate of Public Good (CPG) to Cloud Alliance, LLC for installation of telecommunications facilities located in the towns of Plainfield, Woodbury, Hardwick and Wolcott, Vermont.
READ MOREVermont FiberConnect Receives Key Environmental Approval to Begin Construction
RELEASE DATE: May 31st, 2011
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recently issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Vermont FiberConnect (VFC) project. As a requirement of the project, 70% funded by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), Sovernet Fiber Corp. conducted an environmental assessment which resulted in the FONSI. The project will be constructed on existing utility poles and will therefore have relatively little environmental impact. The issuance of the FONSI will allow Sovernet to begin construction activities on the project.
READ MOREFAIRband Committee and Topsham Communications Announce Completion of West Fairlee Fiber-to-the-Home Project
RELEASE DATE: March 22nd, 2011
Montpelier — The FAIRband Committee announced the completion of Phase I of a fiber-to-the-home (“FTTH”) deployment in West Fairlee by Topsham Communications. On February 21, the West Fairlee Selectboard received a final inspection report on the fiber network installation and voted to release grant funds for the project that were held in escrow. With completion of this phase of the project, residents and businesses along an approximate eight mile route now have access to broadband service in West Fairlee.
READ MOREVTA Supports Broadband Grant to FairPoint
RELEASE DATE: March 16th, 2011
Montpelier — The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) has announced its intention to award $779,040 in grant funding to FairPoint Communications to extend broadband service in the unserved portions of the towns of Cambridge, Waterville, and Fletcher, Vermont through its Backroads Broadband Program.
READ MOREUSDA Announces New Broadband Program and Interim Regulations
RELEASE DATE: March 10th, 2011
New Program Will Build Foundation for Rural Areas to Win the Future WASHINGTON, March 10, 2011 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA issued a Notice of Solicitations of Applications and regulations implementing the 2008 Farm Bill for the broadband loan program.
READ MOREVTA/Sovernet Receive $33.4 Million Broadband Grant
RELEASE DATE: July 2nd, 2010
MONTPELIER, VT, -- The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) and Sovernet Communications reported today that their public-private partnership, Vermont FiberConnect, will receive a $33.4 million grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. The grant will allow Sovernet to develop, own, maintain, and operate a 773 mile fiber-optic middle mile network in southern, central, and northeastern Vermont.
READ MOREVTA Awards Broadband Grant to Cloud Alliance
RELEASE DATE: May 4th, 2010
Montpelier — The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) has awarded a $200,000 grant to Cloud Alliance, LLC to expand broadband in the towns of Woodbury, Hardwick, and Wolcott. Cloud Alliance currently offers land-based, wireless broadband in Marshfield, Plainfield, East Montpelier, and Calais.
READ MORE