In accordance with 30 V.S.A. § 202d, the Department of Public Service is tasked with drafting a Ten-Year Telecommunication Plan for Vermont, in coordination with the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, the Department of Health, the Department of Public Safety, and the Department of Education. The Department is also collaborating with the Agency of Agriculture on the writing of the 2018 Telecommunication Plan.
2018 Telecommunications Plan Final Draft
Montpelier—The Department of Public Service is pleased to announce the release of the final draft of the 2018 Telecommunications Plan. The 2018 Plan addresses the major ongoing developments in the telecommunications industry, including broadband and cellular infrastructure developments and regulatory policy.
“The plan sets forth a clear strategy for continuing to improve broadband access and quality in Vermont,” said Public Service Commissioner June Tierney. The Plan includes an overview of the state’s existing telecommunications infrastructure and strategies for increasing the availability of broadband and wireless voice services. Commissioner Tierney noted that the Plan describes the state of the industry, the challenges facing Vermont, and offers concrete recommendations for addressing them. “Access to high-quality, affordable telecommunications service is essential. While many Vermonters have several broadband and wireless voice options from which to choose, the Plan proposes steps to help the many Vermonters who still lack such choices.” she said.
The Department will hold public hearings on the draft plan prior to adopting the plan. The hearings will be held in Burlington, Montpelier, Brattleboro, Rutland, and St. Johnsbury. Dates and locations of the public hearings are forthcoming and will be announced in publications of record around the state. The 2018 Draft Plan is available here. Copies of the draft plan and information about the comment period may be obtained from the Department of Public Service by calling (802) 828-2811, via email to psd.telecom@vermont.gov, or by writing to the Department of Public Service, 112 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05620.
2018 Final Draft Telecommunications Plan
2018 Upcoming Public Hearings for the Final Draft of the Telecommunications Plan
The Department of Public Service will hold public meetings to solicit feedback from Vermonters regarding the Final Draft Telecommunications Plan, pursuant to 30 V.S.A. § 202d(d). The meetings will be held as follows:
- Tuesday December 11th, at 6 p.m. at the Pavilion Auditorium at 109 State Street in Montpelier, VT
- Wednesday December 12th, at 6 p.m. at the Catamount Arts Center in the Cabaret Room at 115 Eastern Avenue in St. Johnsbury, VT
- Monday December 17th, at 6 p.m. at the Rutland Free Library in the Fox Room at 10 Court Street in Rutland, VT
- Wednesday December 19th, at 6 p.m. at the Brooks Memorial Library at 224 Main Street in Brattleboro, VT
- Thursday December 20th, at 2 p.m. at the John J Zampieri State Office Building at 108 Cherry Street in Burlington, VT
- Friday December 21st, at 1 p.m. at the Vermont State House, Room 11, 115 State Street, Montpelier, VT
- This meeting has been postponed. This listing will be updated when the meeting has been rescheduled.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Comments may be submitted to the Department to by email to psd.telecom@vermont.gov or by mail to the Department of Public Service, 112 State St. Montpelier, VT 05620-2601. Please note that the comment deadline has been extended. Comments are now due by February 1, 2019.
2017 Hearings
The Department of Public Service held public meetings to solicit input from Vermonters about what telecommunications priorities should be addressed in the forthcoming plan, pursuant to 30 V.S.A. § 202d(d). The meetings were held as follows:
Wednesday, October 25, 2017, at 6 p.m. at the Pavilion Auditorium at 109 State Street in Montpelier, VT:
Wednesday, November 1, 2017, at 6:30 p.m. at Dover Town Hall at 22 Holland Rd, East Dover, VT. This meeting followed the Connectivity Summit sponsored by the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation:
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at Catamount Arts, 115 Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, VT 05819: