Northeast Kingdom nonprofit reports 15 households helped by digital navigation program, seeks $12M federal grant to scale

Stacy Winkerson, director of economic and community-based services at Northeast Kingdom Community Action, told the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee on Feb. 20 that the organization’s digital navigation program has connected roughly 15 households to affordable internet service and devices in its first year.

Winkerson said the Affordable Connectivity Program initially reduced participating households’ monthly bills by about $30–$35 and helped provide discounts on devices. When federal ACP funds were exhausted earlier than anticipated, Northeast Kingdom Community Action partnered with the local communications union district, referred to in testimony as NEK Broadband/NEK CV Fiber, to continue the work.

The program pairs one-on-one digital “navigators” with participants to provide hands-on help for tasks such as starting a laptop, using applications, and signing up for benefits portals. Winkerson said Comcast donated 50 laptops to the effort. “The Affordable Connectivity Program got folks connected to internet through a $35 reduction in their bill, as well as gave them access to devices,” Winkerson said.

Under the current partnership, NEK Broadband covers roughly 90% of program costs while Northeast Kingdom Community Action covers about 10% for administration, Winkerson said. Of the 90% provided by NEK Broadband, she said about 60% is a direct contract payment and about 40% is metric-based, tied to agreed performance measures. The organization is contracting with NEK Broadband on six-month agreements while it scales the program.

Winkerson said the program provides participants with both a discount on monthly service (where available) and a free device. She described outreach to multiple providers, including Comcast and other regional providers, to advocate for lower bills when participants were on bundled plans that included services they did not need.

The nonprofit has applied to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for a three-year, $12,000,000 grant intended to fund statewide digital literacy training, devices and navigation services. Winkerson said the application lists partners across the state, including adult literacy networks and community action agencies, and would position local agencies as “boots on the ground” for digital literacy work. “The NTIA has kind of gone silent since the administration changeover,” Winkerson said, adding the application remains under review.

Committee members asked about sustainability and whether the local communications union district’s involvement reflects customer-acquisition goals or philanthropy. Winkerson said the NEK Broadband executive director is committed to digital equity and that the union districts are exploring sustainable funding approaches, including the possibility of a small surcharge or other mechanisms to support customers who cannot afford service. She said the program aims to serve households at or below about 200% of the federal poverty level.

Winkerson said the program’s first-year intake was smaller than hoped — roughly 15 households — in part because it took about six months to ramp up and because staffing is limited (one navigator). She projected the effort could serve about 40–50 households per year as capacity and hub infrastructure expand, including a planned Groton hub that would serve as a landing site for the project’s services.

Winkerson also told the committee that the organization uses Comcast’s Internet Essentials and other low-cost plans where appropriate, but that those plans can offer lower upload/download speeds than the program targets. She said staff generally steer clients toward plans that meet the program’s connectivity goals when possible.

Committee members thanked Winkerson for the presentation and noted a related state digital equity grant applied for by VCBB that could coordinate with the NEK effort if funded. Winkerson said the program team is hopeful both federal and state funding will enable expansion.

Next steps described in testimony include awaiting the NTIA decision on the $12 million application, coordinating with the state digital equity grant process, and continuing the six-month contracts while building local capacity and infrastructure.