Favorable signals for Vermont broadband
Toolbox
By DANIEL BARLOW VERMONT PRESS BUREAU - Published: June 5, 2009
MONTPELIER – Vermont could see between $30 million to $70 million in federal stimulus dollars boost its ambitious plan for universal high-speed Internet access by the end of next year, and companies are already lining up with possible projects.
Later this summer, the National Telecommunications and Information Agency and the Rural Utilities Services are expected to begin accepting proposals for billions of dollars in high-speed Internet and mobile data grant and loans.
And while the federal rules on how those funds will be allocated are not yet written, Vermont wants to be first in line to best take advantage of the money.
"We don't know what those final rules might say, but we are putting together a package of proposals under the wrapper of the state that we believe will meet the criteria," explained Tom Evslin, who is chief recovery officer for Vermont overseeing plans for federal stimulus money.
Gov. James Douglas has set the goal of universal broadband and mobile phone coverage across Vermont by the end of 2010 – a goal that looks a lot more realistic if the state receives a boost in funding from the federal government.
The state's recovery office recently released a seven-page memo detailing the ways the office will work with the Vermont Telecommunications Authority.
This includes putting together packages of projects across the state to apply for federal funding for projects such as building the state's telecommunications network, broadband mapping and data collection and expanding access to rural areas that have been ignored by telecommunications corporations.
At the state's Telecommunications Authority, Bill Shuttleworth said the state is in negotiations with certain companies about Internet broadband and cellular expansions. The stimulus money – Shuttleworth hopes for anywhere between $35 million to $100 million for the state's efforts – will go a long way to bringing the state to its goal.
Shuttleworth said he believes the state will achieve 100 percent high-speed Internet access by the end of 2010. Mobile phone service may be very close to that goal, he added, with an estimated 90 percent build-out.
"What we're working on with Tom Evslin right now is reaching that last 25,000 or so lines that will be difficult to reach," Shuttleworth said.
Evslin said his office has already seen strong interest from telecommunications companies and others interested in getting into that business. They are now sorting through them to establish a detailed plan of what projects would be necessary to cover the whole state with service.
"We have more than enough proposals here to connect the whole state," he said. "We also have the $40 million bonding authority through the Vermont Telecommunications Authority."
Federal stimulus money can breathe new life into the efforts of the East Central Vermont Community Fiber Network, a grassroots organization that hopes to bring high-speed Internet to underserved parts of the state.
The group had hoped to roll out its plan last year – but then Wall Street collapsed and with it their hopes for funding for investors inside and outside of Vermont.
But Tim Nulty, the founder of the Burlington Telecomm and now the president of ValleyNet in White River Junction, said he plans to put an application in for $75 to $80 million to launch and complete the project.
Nulty, the project manager of EC Fiber, said the loan program through the Rural Utilities Service matches up nearly perfectly with a project they have envisioned. They are also likely to apply for funds through the state's process as well.
"We exactly fit about 95 percent of their criteria," he said. "And we're shovel-ready."
daniel.barlow@rutland herald.com
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