Vermont Moves Forward with $2.5M Fiber Drop Initiative

WASHINGTON, September 9, 2024 – Vermont broadband officials unanimously agreed Monday to move forward with a plan to use $2.5 million of the state’s remaining federal COVID-19 relief money to help low-income residents connect to nearby fiber internet networks. 

The decision came after the Vermont Community Broadband Board solicited ideas from the state’s Communications Unions Districts. The top request from CUDs was for the money to be used for long and underground fiber drops to address an affordability barrier for many low and middle-income Vermonters. 

During the VCBB meeting on Monday, the Board decided to remove a reference to 'aerial' fiber from the program’s bylaws, to focus on 'funding drops' as a general best practice. The proposed ‘Long Drop’ program will prioritize the deployment of fiber drops to homes located more than 400 feet away from existing fiber lines.