The 2008 Broadband Grant winners were announced by the Vermont Telecommunications Authority.
Canaan/Norton, Canaan/Norton - $50000
EC Fiber (planning), 25 Towns - $25000
Global Net, Fletcher & surrounding area - $50000
Powershift, Elmore, Hardwick - $20000
Ripton Broadband Coop, Ripton - $25000
SVBC, Stamford - $30000
The Broadband Grant Program is an initiative designed to create demonstration projects for providings broadband to all Vermonters. The goal of the program is to test viable models and look for creative ways to extend affordable high-speed Internet access to underserved parts of the state.
For the past four years, the Vermont Legislature has funded the Broadband Grant Program. Last year it was funded with a $200,000 allocation.
This years grants will utilize Wi-Fi hot spots in the towns of Elmore and Hardwick, fund a town cooperative in Stamford, provide wireless access in Canaan/Norton and Ripton, provide funds to a wireless service provider to utilize a Mt. Mansfield tower in order to reach
Fletcher and surrounding towns in northwest Vermont, and to provide planning for a FTTH project in Central Vermont. In all, $200,000 was spread across Vermont.
Winners were selected by a committee that includes several members of the Telecommunications Authoritys Board of Directors, representatives from the Department of Economic Development and the Vermont Council on Rural Development. Winners were determined using a detailed review and selection process. Criteria included a strong public-private partnership use of the grants as seed money to attract additional funds or contributions availability to everyone in
a covered area.