Deputy Director Robert Fish
Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont CUD Association (VCUDA) is thanking Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) Deputy Director Robert Fish for his leadership in helping Vermont on its way to achieving its bold broadband goals. Fish is moving on from the VCBB in October 2025. He joined the Vermont Department of Public Service in 2019, just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and has been a tireless supporter of Vermont’s broadband strategy and of communications union districts. He was the VCBB’s second employee, hired in 2021 shortly after the board was formed and its Executive Director Christine Hallquist was appointed by Governor Phil Scott.
Deputy Director Fish played a pivotal role in the early leadership of the VCBB, expanding staff capacity from two to twelve. Fish helped to manage more than $280 million in broadband funding, including securing several million dollars in funding from the Northern Border Regional Commission.
More recently, Fish led the VCBB’s efforts to create the Affordable Long Drop Program, which is currently open for applications and is designed to ensure the cost of the connection from the road to the residence is not a barrier to broadband adoption for Vermonters.
“Rob Fish joined state government through Act 73 of 2019 at a time when the legislature and administration made clear that no one was coming to save Vermonters when it came to broadband. The state could not compel providers to serve every home because of federal preemption, so Vermonters were going to have to work together and build their own networks. Rob was the key human we placed at the Department of Public Service to help communities form Communications Union Districts like ECFiber, and his enthusiasm, advice, and steady support were irreplaceable as hundreds of Vermonters stepped forward before and after the pandemic to take up this charge. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of working with him as we established the VCBB and helped CUDs navigate federal funding complexities and state and national partnerships. No one in state government has been a fiercer advocate for the Vermonters who formed these districts than Rob. He will be sorely missed by the CUDs, and by me,” said Vermont State Representative and VCBB Board Member Laura Sibilia.
When Deputy Director Fish joined the VCBB in 2021, nearly 24% of households in Vermont lacked access to what is today considered to be broadband (speeds of 100/20 Mbps). Today that number is under 15%, with the majority of remaining locations funded through a combination of sources such as the VCBB’s Act 71 Construction Grant program and various federal programs.
Vermont is currently awaiting feedback from the NTIA on its Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Final Proposal, which will provide funding for the last approximately 4.5% of households and will bring the number of households with terrestrial broadband close to 100%. Three CUDs are provisional winners of BEAD funding, which would not have been possible without an appropriation from the Vermont legislature to fund a statutory match requirement, supported by Governor Scott as well as Deputy Director Fish and the VCBB.
It costs approximately $40,000 to $60,000 per mile to build a new aerial fiber broadband network in Vermont, inclusive of design, permitting, materials, and construction labor. Actual costs are higher because certain portions need to be buried which can cost up to five times as much. Rural towns typically have under 10 homes per road mile, meaning that the cost per household is higher in the most rural areas of the state. The work of the VCBB, and of Deputy Director Fish, has been instrumental in enabling communications union districts to obtain the funding necessary to bring service to the most expensive rural areas.
“Rob is an incredibly thoughtful, kind, and resourceful person—the epitome of what every public civil servant should strive to be. Rob’s dedication to lifting Vermont out of digital darkness has helped move our state forward. Vermont has been fortunate to have him at the forefront of our fight to connect every corner of the state to affordable, high-speed broadband,” said Senator Peter Welch. “I’m grateful for Rob’s service to all Vermonters and wish him success in the future.”
“Rob Fish has been a stalwart supporter of CUDs since before the VCBB was formed, and we are tremendously grateful to him for his dedication, drive, and especially his creativity in solving problems and identifying opportunities. His energy, enthusiasm, and leadership will be sorely missed,” said Maple Broadband Executive Director and VCUDA Chair Ellie de Villiers.
“Rob Fish was instrumental in building the foundation of the new CUDs over the last five years. From securing the initial funds to providing guidance on policies, he helped NEK Community Broadband, now NEKCV, get off the ground. I really appreciate his ability to understand the details and nuance while not losing track of the strategic big picture. His work with the legislature and potential funders helped build what CUDs are today. NEKCV is immensely grateful for his work and dedication to the mission of universal access to high-speed internet in Vermont,” said NEKCV Executive Director Christa Shute.
“The work that Rob Fish did to help us stand up the Deerfield Valley Communications Union District beginning in April 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, was instrumental to get us started. He cared about the CUD mission, he was resourceful, and went well beyond expectations. We are grateful, and we wish him all the best,” said DVFiber Vice Chair Ann Manwaring.
"Rob Fish has played a pivotal role in helping NWCUD/Northwest Fiberworx stay focused on our mission and continue moving forward. His guidance and support have been instrumental, particularly in navigating grant and financial resource opportunities. Rob’s deep understanding of the challenges we face—especially regarding funding for long drops—has helped us explore creative and practical solutions. His commitment to finding ways to overcome these financial hurdles reflects his dedication to our success and the broader goals of equitable broadband access," said NWFX's Network Operations Manager, Mary Kay Raymond, PMP.
The Vermont CUD Association (VCUDA) serves to unite the interests of Vermont’s growing municipal internet networks, devising ways to share resources and foster CUD collaboration on critical policy, finance, legal, legislative and business issues.
Deputy Director Fish’s LinkedIn Profile
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