$116 million in grants announced for broadband construction in Vermont

The Vermont Community Broadband Board launched a $116 million broadband construction grant program that is set to fund projects beginning spring 2022. Vermont’s nine communications union districts, plus the small communication carriers and internet service providers that are working alongside the communication districts, can all apply for the funding.  “These grants are important to drive down the entry cost,” Christine Hallquist, executive director of the Community Broadband Board, told the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday. Funding broadband through grants, rather than bonds, decreases the consumer cost, she said. The community broadband board’s goal is to provide universal broadband access throughout Vermont with upload and download speeds of 100 megabits per second. Currently, just 29.2 percent of Vermont households meet that standard, according to the Department of Public Service. In addition to the $116 million in construction grants, Gov Phil Scott (R-VT) wants to use a lot of federal money — $95 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds and $100 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — to support broadband buildout. Those requests are part of his budget proposal for the fiscal year that starts July 1.