Montpelier, VT – The Public Service Department would like to announce the winners of the second round of grant funding through the State’s Broadband Innovation Grant Program. The grants will support two feasibility studies and subsequent business plans for the deployment of broadband in rural, unserved, and underserved areas of Vermont.The second round of funding, per Act 79 of 2019, will fund studies produced by two electric utilities. The Department will award grant funding to two grant recipients:
- Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc.: Will receive up to $60,000 to complete a feasibility study and business plan that contemplates cost-effective solutions like hybrid fiber/wireless systems that avoid the high cost of lengthy drops for their most remote customers.
- Vermont Electric Cooperative, Inc.: Will receive up to $60,000 to complete a feasibility study and business plan that contemplate an area-by-area buildout of their service territory. By starting with only part of their service territory, they can ground truth the assumptions from their study and plan.
For more information on the Broadband Innovation Grant Program, please visit the Department of Public Service webpage. Further questions may be directed to Clay Purvis at 802-371-9655 or clay.purvis@vermont.gov.