Vermont Business Magazine ECFiber, based in Royalton and now officially known as the East Central Vermont Telecommunications District, announced plans to activate 110 miles of network in 2016 and build an additional 250 miles in 2017. “Working with bond underwriters, we believe ECFiber has reached the point in its financial development that allows us to access institutional capital markets for the first time in 2016,” says Irv Thomae, District Chairman. “Since 2011, we have relied on 450+ local investors, some state-provided dark fiber, and VTA and Connectivity Fund grants to build the first 340 miles of network. By the end of 2016 we will be in parts of 21 of our 24 member towns, but many neighborhoods that desperately need ECFiber service cannot afford to raise the $30,000 per mile to complete a build. Outside financing would finally allow us to build to those towns that need us the most, not just those where we can raise capital.”
ECFiber file photo.
“Those towns with the highest rate of pre-subscription on April 30, 2016 will be fully built in 2017,” says ECFiber’s new CEO, Carole Monroe. “This is similar to the way Google Fiber rolled out its networks. We are urging all citizens of the 24 member towns to express their genuine interest in receiving ECFiber service by visiting our pre-subscription page at www.ecfiber.net/levelup . No initial deposit is required and all pre-subscribers will receive discounted installation and one year of the next higher service level at no additional cost - Sign up for Basic 10 Mbps and try out Standard at 25 Mbps, Sign up for Ultra 100 Mbps and try out Wicked Fast internet of 500 Mbps.” Monroe says, “An additional 250 miles of network could mean 4-8 towns being completely covered by 2017. ECFiber’s plans to complete the 1400 miles of network needed to reach all underserved locations in its 24 towns by 2019.
ECFiber is a consortium of 24 towns in East-Central Vermont. Step by step, we are building a community-owned fiber-optic network to deliver high-speed Internet to every home, business, or civic institution in our territory. ECFiber offers real, simple broadband: no contracts, no data caps, symmetrical internet access (same upload as download,) speeds from 10 Mbps to 500 Mbps that do not vary by time of day or according to the weather. In addition, fully featured phone service with unlimited USA and Canada long distance calling is available.
For more information, www.ecfiber.net