Updated June 30, 2021
The Vermont Department of Public Service is working with an outside consultant to develop and write a Telecommunications Plan that meets new requirements set forth by Act 79 (2019), an act relating to broadband deployment throughout Vermont, and 30 V.S.A. § 202d, as amended by Act 137 (2020), an act relating to COVID-19 funding and assistance for broadband connectivity, housing, and economic relief.
Final Adopted Plan
The Department is pleased to issue the Final Adopted 10-Year Telecommunications Plan. The Department would like to thank all of those who participated in its creation.
Final Draft
The Final Draft of the 10-Year Telecommunications plan was released on June 10, 2021. Comments on this draft are due June 30, 2021.
Background
The Department engaged a business and residential survey and conducted three initial public input sessions to raise issues and ideas for inclusion in the plan in March and April, 2021.
The Public Comments Draft was released on May 11, 2021, and incorporated many of the issues and proposals from these sources.
Three public hearings were held on the Public Comments Draft, during which consumers were able to provide comments to help inform the Final Draft Plan. The Department also accepted public comments via email and through an online survey tool. The Final Draft addresses all public comments received during this process in the appendicies.
The Department of Public Service wants to thank the state's Public Access community for their support in broadcasting and promoting the public hearings on this Plan.
Public information sessions on the Final Draft
The Department of Public Service will host four public input sessions over the next two weeks for the Final Draft Vermont 10-Year Telecommunications Plan. Members of the public may comment on the Final Draft Plan during these live sessions, or offer written comments as described below. Links to recordings of the sessions will be made available to the public. The Department anticipates publishing and adopting the 2021 10-year Telecommunications Plan after the conclusion of this process.
Session 1
June 17, 2021, 6:00 pm- 7:00 pm ET
Attendees are invited to join in-person in the PSD-GIGA Conference Room located at:
112 State Street; Floor 3
Montpelier, VT
Meeting Link: Click here to join the meeting
Call-in: 802-552-8456
Conf ID: 378 941 295#
RECORDING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rjep_WCFtCU
Session 2
June 22, 2021, 12:00 pm- 2:00 pm ET
This will be a joint hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance, House Committee on Energy and Technology, and the Joint Information Technology Oversight Committee.
The hearing will include a presentation by the Department and their consultants, a 30-minute Q&A session for legislators, and a 30-minute public input session.
Testimony limited to 5 minutes per person. If you would like to provide public input for this session, please email mferrant@leg.state.vt.us
Meeting Link: click here to view livestream on youtube
RECORDING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f63o6ZdmLJE
Session 3
June 23, 2021, 6:00 pm- 7:00 pm ET
SPRINGFIELD (join us in-person)
Black River Innovation Campus
60 Park Street
Springfield, VT 05156
Meeting Link: Click here to join the meeting
Call-in: 802-552-8456
Conf ID: 614 964 094#
RECORDING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUhu92Q2jh0
Session 4
June 24, 2021, 6:00 pm- 7:00 pm ET
CRAFTSBURY (join us in-person)
Craftsbury Town Hall
85 South Craftsbury Road
Craftsbury, VT 05826
Meeting Link: Click here to join the meeting
Call-in: 802-552-8456
Conf ID: 589 733 799#
RECORDING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg8oGTm3WPQ
Session 5
June 28, 2021, 6:00 pm- 7:00 pm ET
DORSET (join us in-person)
Dorset Town Offices
112 Mad Tom Road
East Dorset, VT 05253
This meeting was held in-person.
There was no attendance at this hearing. No recording or transcript exists.
Written Input
Consumers can also submit comments in writing, either by taking a 3-question survey or via email to psd.telecom@vermont.gov.
Comments on the Final Draft will be accepted through June 30, 2021
Initial Public Input Sessions
Session 1
March 31, 2021, 12:30-1:30 pm ET
Topic: Broadband
Call-in: 802-552-8456
Conf ID: 659 461 851#
RECORDING: Click here
Session 2
April 1, 2021, 6-7 pm ET
Topic: Cell Service; Public Safety; and Public, Educational, and Governmental Access TV
Call-in: 802-552-8456
Conf ID: 281 863 292
RECORDING: Click here
Public Hearings on the Public Comments Draft Plan
Public Hearing 1
May 20, 2021, 4-5 pm
Call-in: 802-552-8456
Conf ID: 860 105 58#
RECORDING: click here
Public Hearing 2
Thursday May 27, 2021, 6-7 pm
Call-in: 802-552-8456
Conf ID: 192 700 314#
RECORDING: click here
Public Hearing 3
Tuesday June 1, 2021, 6-7 pm
Call-in: 802-552-8456
Conf ID: 265 255 70#
RECORDING: click here