November 2024

Connecting Communities, Protecting Wildlife

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) are working together to significantly accelerate Endangered Species Act (ESA) reviews for Internet for All projects. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) is driving historic investments in broadband and other infrastructure, including the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.

Upstream Broadband Traffic Continues Disproportionate Growth: OpenVault

Broadband consumption experienced a milestone during the third quarter of the year as upstream traffic increased two times as fast as downstream traffic, according to OpenVault. The firm found that year-over-year upstream traffic increased 13.9%, while downstream increased by 6.8%. Overall traffic growth was 7.2%, according to the OpenVault Broadband Insights (OVBI) report. The trend of upstream outpacing downstream traffic is well established and consistent with the evolution of end point-generated content.

Vermont Has Awarded All Its CPF Broadband Funds; Some CUDs Won’t Need BEAD

The state of Vermont has awarded all the broadband funds that it received through the federal Capital Projects Fund (CPF), said Rob Fish, deputy director for the Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB). As a result of the construction, some previously unserved and underserved areas of the state won’t need funding through the rural broadband Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, according to Fish. VCBB awarded more than $184.5 million through its CPF-funded Broadband Construction Program, which was supplemented by funding raised by individual communities and network opera

Vermont Community Broadband Board Announces New Member

Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) is pleased to welcome Sarah Hofmann as a new Board Member. Ms. Hofmann was appointed to fill the vacancy resulting from the October resignation of former VCBB Board Member Holly Groschner. Ms. Hofmann was appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Jill Krowinski, to fill a three-year term from February 2024 to February 2027. Ms. Hofmann served on the Vermont Public Utility Commission from 2015 to 2021. . Ms. Hofmann is a graduate of Rollins College and the University of New Hampshire School of Law.