CUDs Lead Affordable Fiber Revolution in Vermont

When it comes to affordable broadband, Vermont has always been a trailblazer. From early adoption of municipal broadband and cooperatives to more recent experimentation with Communications Union District (CUD) fiber deployments, the state’s efforts are inspiring communities nationwide to look for new, creative solutions for the stubborn digital divide. CUDs provide individual communities significantly more power and leverage through cross-community alliances and partnerships, allowing them to accomplish more than they could have by themselves. In the seven years since the state first took action, more than a dozen CUDs have been established or are currently under development. And those CUDs are well positioned to benefit from the estimated $200 to $300 million Vermont is expected to receive in broadband funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). State leaders say a significant portion of Vermont’s $150 million ARPA-based broadband package will go toward assisting CUDs in a state where 85 percent of municipalities and 90 percent of all underserved locations fall under an existing CUD’s jurisdiction. Over time, the improvements could be transformative, and a model for other states to follow.