Governor and Comcast to Announce Additional High-Speed Service to Vermonters

Governor and Comcast to Announce Additional High-Speed Service to Vermonters
Advances Vermont's e-State Initiative
MONTPELIER, Vt.(June 20, 2008) - Governor Jim Douglas on Monday will be joined by Mary Evslin, Chair of the Vermont Telecommunications Authority, Ruth Wallman, Executive Director of the Lake Champlain Islands Chamber of Commerce and Dan Blakeman, Vice President of Comcast's Vermont System to announce Comcast's proposal to extend its network by another 300 miles in 2009 in communities previously not served by wire line providers offering high-speed cable internet, television and phone service. The focus of the proposal is located in Grand Isle County, which includes South Hero, North Hero, Grand Isle along with other Vermont communities.
Governor Douglas said this is another step toward the goals of his e-State Initiative-a cornerstone of Douglas' economic growth efforts. "The e-state initiative is about achieving truly universal access to affordable broadband technology and building a telecommunications infrastructure where no one is left behind," the Governor said.
To spearhead this effort, Douglas proposed-and the Vermont Legislature approved-creation of a Vermont Telecommunications Authority. The Authority is working with private-sector partners like Comcast to build a "next generation infrastructure" that supports universal broadband and cellular coverage. The State is backing $40 million of bonding by the Authority, which could leverage hundreds of million of dollars more in private investment.
"We're building new infrastructure that is encouraging growth across every sector of our economy," Douglas said. "Vermonters know the innovation enabled by our e-state initiative will ensure that our economy grows stronger and our communities closer."
WHEN: Monday, June 23, 2008 at 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: State House, Montpelier
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