Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) announced today that Otter Creek Communications Union District (OCCUD, Rutland region) has completed its universal service plan having constructed fiber optic broadband to 3,626 addresses, including 1,278 previously unserved addresses. The work happened in partnership with Consolidated Communications/Fidium and in agreement with GoNetSpeed. The project was completed ahead of schedule and under budget with $2.99 million remaining that will be used to address affordability across the state.
“We are so proud of this tremendous accomplishment. It’s a great example of how Vermonters can benefit from the local leadership of CUDs in negotiating with private telecoms. Hundreds of volunteers across our state have stepped up and worked tirelessly, and now people in the OCCUD towns have access to reliable broadband, and the rest of the state benefits from the efficiency and savings this work produced,” said VCBB Executive Director Christine Hallquist. “This is example of a CUD strategically reviewing the current level of service in their area, acknowledging the best course of action was to partner with the existing telecom providers serving most addresses, and then holding them accountable to the community.”
OCCUD and VCBB negotiated a construction and service quality agreement with Consolidated Communications that includes various accountability and quality guarantees, including ensuring prices in the district are no higher than in other parts of Vermont, offering the same products that are available in the rest of Northern New England, participating in affordability programs, quarterly testing for speed and latency, and email notification of network outages.
“I want to thank all of the volunteer Otter Creek member town representatives as well as our volunteer treasurer for their commitment to the Otter Creek CUD Governing Board to make this project happen,” said Laura Black, OCCUD Chair. “The team at Consolidated, the team at GoNetspeed and the VCBB staff have all been great to work with throughout the project; finally making high-speed broadband accessible to our constituents of the district’s eighteen municipalities.”
The towns in OCCUD’s district include Benson, Brandon, Castleton, Chittenden, Fair Haven, Goshen, Hubbardton, Mendon, Pawlet, Pittsford, Poultney, Rutland Town, Rutland City, Shrewsbury, Sudbury, Wells, West Rutland, and West Haven.
"Every day, we see how fiber empowers communities to build brighter futures, and we are proud to deliver Fidium's future-ready gig-speed internet to the communities represented by Otter Creek CUD," said Sarah Davis, vice president of Market Development for Fidium. "Our partnership with OCCUD and VCBB is a shining example of how collaboration is key to bridging the digital divide, connecting Vermonters in downtowns and on dirt roads alike to the myriad economic, employment, educational and entertainment benefits that come with reliable fiber access."
The savings from OCCUD’s work will go to VCBB’s new Affordable Long Drop Program, which will help ensure Vermonters can afford to get connected to broadband by providing grants to eligible providers to cover connection costs for long or nonstandard drops, including underground installations.
You can visit our website for more information about Vermont’s CUDs. You can also find which one your town is in and its contact information.
8.20.2025. Montpelier, Vermont — Vermont Community Broadband Board
To support vital journalism, access our archives and get unique features like our award-winning profiles, Book of Lists & Business-to-Business Directory, subscribe HERE!
