The Department of Public Service announces the launch of the second of three rounds of funding for the Broadband Innovation Grant program. The second round is intended exclusively to help electric distribution utilities conduct feasibility studies and create business plans related to the deployment of broadband in rural, unserved and underserved areas of Vermont.
The program's second funding round will award up to $60,000 per grant to up to two eligible grantees. Eligible grantees must be electric utilities. This funding round is issued in compliance with Act 79 of 2019, and this RFP is published as a follow-up to a feasibility study produced through the Department. Electric utility applicants are encouraged to review the feasibility study.
Grantees must deliver a feasibility study that proposes new broadband systems with minimum speeds of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload in unserved or underserved areas. Please see the Broadband Innovation Grant Program for more information. The final round of funding is scheduled for announcement in Spring 2020, and it will be open to a greater number and more types of applicants.
Applicants should notify the Department by 4:30 p.m. Monday, February 3, 2020 of their intent to respond to this grant opportunity by sending an email to psd.telecom@vermont.gov with “Intent to Respond: “BIG 2020-Electric” in the subject line, or by sending a letter to:
Broadband Innovation Grant
Department of Public Service
112 State Street, Floor 3
Montpelier, VT 05620-2601
For more information, please see the RFP or contact Clay Purvis at 802-371-9655 or clay.purvis@vermont.gov.