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Vermont Community Broadband Board reports 95% coverage, details federal grants and BEAD plans
Summary
The Vermont Community Broadband Board told the House Appropriations Committee it has obligated most ARPA funds for broadband preconstruction, has executed a BEAD grant agreement for nearly $229 million, and will distribute the majority of BEAD funds for construction later this year; the board also secured a $5.3 million digital equity grant.
Christine Hochquist, executive director of the Vermont Community Broadband Board, told the House Appropriations Committee on Feb. 14 that the board is roughly 95 percent of the way to universal broadband access in Vermont and outlined federal and state funding the board is managing.
Hochquist said the board was established by Act 71 of 2021 and credited communications union districts for much of the progress toward universal service. She summarized three primary funding sources: American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) state and local fiscal recovery funds used for preconstruction, ARPA Capital Projects Fund dollars and the Universal Service Fund surcharge used for program core costs and matching where federal grants disallow…
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