House panel presses DOC on $3 million plan to bring Wi‑Fi, better tablets to state prisons

Montpelier — The House Corrections & Institutions Committee heard testimony April 17 from Department of Corrections officials about plans to expand Wi‑Fi inside state correctional facilities and to address widespread problems with vendor‑managed tablets used by incarcerated people.

“The install didn’t go as planned,” said Krista Marie, Operational Systems Director for the Department of Corrections, acknowledging supply and rollout problems with the new tablet system and saying vendor technicians are working in Vermont to fix devices and implement a direct ticket system for paid features.

Committee members reported problem reports from a recent visit to St. Albans. A committee member said they heard inmates and staff describe the devices as unreliable: “these tablets are garbage — they work 5 or 10% of the time,” the member said, summarizing what was heard on site. DOC officials said they are tracking and addressing those complaints in twice‑weekly vendor meetings.

DOC described multiple, separate networks inside facilities: a vendor‑hosted tablet network (ICS Solutions) and educational platforms such as Edovo; a state SOV secure hardwired network supported by ADS; a guest network for visiting areas loaded with translation software; and RISDOC, a grant‑funded network for programming and education. Wellpath, the medical contractor, operates its own HIPAA‑compliant hardwired network, DOC said.

Officials told the committee that an initial capital ask of $3 million was added to the capital bill to support wiring, heat‑mapping and upgrades, and that preliminary, high‑level estimates put the annual licensing and leasing cost for all six facilities around $250,000. Committee members pressed DOC for a timetable: Marie said the agency aims to complete security, facility (heat‑mapping) and paper‑to‑digital assessments by August, update wiring quotes by September and, if funding is available, go to contract by October or November.

Members also discussed programmatic limits. DOC noted that E‑rate funding from USAC covers much of the network that supports the agency’s accredited high school but that E‑rate limits use to educational purposes. DOC cautioned that expanding RISDOC or Wi‑Fi into living units raises monitoring, device‑misuse and equity concerns — including reports of tablets being thrown and damaged, and potential contention if units mix learners and non‑learners.

Committee members asked the department to clarify whether the state Broadband Board has funds that could be used for interior wiring; DOC said the board’s available funds are unclear and that some members previously reported the federal funds are already obligated and do not cover interior building wiring. Members requested that Broadband Board representatives be asked to appear or otherwise clarify funding availability.

The committee did not take formal votes. Members discussed scheduling on‑site visits to Springfield or Windsor next week to inspect facilities and asked DOC for follow‑up information including more detailed quotes and clarifications on the tablet rollout and monitoring plans. The committee said it would share the briefing with colleagues and continue oversight while the department completes assessments.

Sources: Testimony and exchanges at the April 17 House Corrections & Institutions Committee hearing, Department of Corrections staff (Kristen Colvin; Krista Marie) and committee members.