Vermont Business Magazine Following the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)’s approval of Vermont’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) plan on February 9, Maple Broadband has announced that this confirmation of its provisional BEAD award will fully fund broadband throughout the 20-town Addison County Communications Union District.
When Maple Broadband received its first construction grant from the Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) in 2022, there were close to 6,000 on-grid addresses within the district that did not have access to internet speeds of 25/3 Mbps or greater. In 2024, the federal definition of broadband increased to 100/20 Mbps or greater, a standard that only fiber-optic and coaxial cable connections can reliably meet. The BEAD grant provides funding to reach this higher standard, and includes the costs of installing underground conduits for buried installations.
“We have come a long way since Maple Broadband was formed in late 2020,” said Maple Broadband Chair Steve Huffaker. “We have almost 250 miles of active service in Addison County and hundreds of customers. And there are fewer people ‘freezing’ in our video meetings! But there remain portions of our district that we haven’t had the funds to build yet, so we’re excited to have secured the funding to finish the job.”
Maple Broadband submitted its BEAD application in partnership with Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom (WCVT). The grant will fund construction to remaining unserved addresses across the district, including areas where WCVT provides service. Towns receiving the most new construction under this grant include Starksboro and Lincoln, served by WCVT, and Middlebury, Ripton, New Haven, and Ferrisburgh, served by Maple Broadband.
This investment will help WCVT reach the remaining addresses in its service area with fiber-optic internet. “Expanding our fiber network so that every customer has access to fast, reliable broadband remains a top priority. Our partnership with Maple Broadband has driven major progress, and this new grant funding will help us finish the remaining buildout and move closer to delivering 100% fiber‑optic service across our territory,” said Roger Nishi, General Manager at WCVT.
One of the conditions of Maple Broadband’s existing construction grant funding is to ensure that all on-grid addresses within the district have access to broadband service.
“This BEAD award positions Maple Broadband for future success by enabling us to fulfill our universal service obligations without taking on interest-bearing debt,” said Maple Broadband Executive Director Ellie de Villiers. “Since we were announced as provisional BEAD awardees in August 2025, we have been working on engineering design and planning while Vermont awaited federal approval. We are excited to begin construction as soon as possible.”
BEAD-funded construction is expected to commence later this year, after Maple Broadband receives its grant agreement and has received the necessary authorizations to begin construction.
Maple Broadband also announced in February the launch of its Affordable Drop Program (ADP) and Local Equitable Access Fund (LEAF), two new programs that lower the cost of getting connected to high-speed fiber internet for residents across its service area. Together, these programs support households that face financial barriers to getting, or staying, connected to reliable broadband.
As a community-owned and locally-governed provider, Maple Broadband is governed by residents of its 20 member towns, who make decisions in the public interest rather than to maximize profit. This local governance structure enables Maple Broadband to design affordability programs that respond directly to needs and priorities of Addison County residents.
The Local Equitable Access Fund (LEAF) funds a $30 monthly service discount and waives the $149.95 installation fee for qualifying households. Financed directly by Maple Broadband, LEAF reflects the organization’s commitment to helping households reduce barriers to accessing high-quality fiber internet service.
The Affordable Drop Program covers the costs of installing underground conduits for buried installations, and other costs not covered by Maple Broadband’s standard installation fee. This program is funded by a grant received from the Vermont Community Broadband Board. Under the terms of this grant, all work must be complete by fall of 2026.
“Maple Broadband is working to expand access to high-speed broadband throughout our member towns to enable everyone to participate in work, school, healthcare, and civic life. Access alone isn't enough, though," said Ellie de Villiers, Executive Director of Maple Broadband. “By investing in LEAF and the Affordable Drop Program, we're taking steps to address cost barriers and make fiber internet accessible to more households. We recognize there's more work to do."
Residents, community partners, and local officials interested in learning more about these affordability programs, service availability, or Maple Broadband’s buildout plans can visit maplebroadband.net or contact Maple Broadband directly.
About Maple Broadband: Maple Broadband is a Communications Union District (CUD) based in Addison County and is a local, community-governed internet service provider. Maple Broadband’s mission is to ensure that every on-grid address that it serves, in its member towns, has access to high-speed fiber-optic broadband service supported by prompt, skilled, helpful customer service. CUDs are not-for-profit, municipal entities and cannot tax their member towns or the residents of those towns. A CUD must fund its network construction and operations through grants, loans, donations, and subscriptions.
About Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom:
Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom (WCVT) is a fourth‑generation, family‑owned communications provider serving the Mad River Valley and the central Champlain Valley regions of Vermont. Since first delivering telephone service in 1904, the company has remained deeply rooted in the communities it serves. As a locally owned Vermont business with 122 years of service, WCVT is committed to ensuring that rural communities have access to the same high‑quality communications infrastructure found in more urban areas. This long‑standing commitment has guided the company’s extensive investment in building world‑class rural fiber‑optic networks. Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom
Middlebury, Vermont – Maple Broadband
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