News

Press Releases Listing

Gov. Shumlin: New Wireless Service in Bethel Available - Innovative Partnership Promotes Economic Development and Greater Cell Coverage

RELEASE DATE: May 17th, 2013

BETHEL – Gov. Peter Shumlin announced today that an innovative collaboration to address much needed wireless service is fully operational in Bethel. Working together, the State of Vermont, the Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA), the Town of Bethel, AT&T and FairPoint helped solve a challenge facing GW Plastics, a leading manufacturer of plastic injection molded products. The lack of cell coverage was presenting challenges, and Brenan Riehl, President and CEO of GW Plastics, needed to find a solution.

Broadband Expansion Grant Awarded for Norwich & Thetford

RELEASE DATE: April 18th, 2013

Montpelier, VT - The Vermont Telecommunications Authority(VTA) has announced a broadband grant to ECFiber of $167,569. The award will help the company build fiber-optic facilities and offer broadband Internet services to locations currently without access. The VTAs target grant areas include 17 addresses near the Norwich-Thetford town line as well as other locations in Norwich.

Broadband Expansion Grant Awarded for Bradford & Rupert

RELEASE DATE: April 12th, 2013

Montpelier, VT - The Vermont Telecommunications Authority(VTA) has awarded FairPoint Communications $182,000 to expand its DSL broadband Internet service to locations currently without access in Bradford and Rupert.“This is another important step in reaching my goal of making broadband available throughout our state,” Governor Shumlin said. “FairPoint has been a great partner in helping us achieve this.”

New Rural Vermont Cell ServiceTested in Orange County

RELEASE DATE: April 10th, 2013

Montpelier, VT – The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) announces a milestone in expanding cellular phone service in the state. A VTA project with CoverageCo, a wholesale service provider, has successfully completed five miles of wireless coverage along Route 110 between Chelsea and Washington.

Leahy, Sanders, Welch, and Shumlin: $1.6 M. Disaster Grant Will Help Prevent Digital Isolation in Future Disasters

RELEASE DATE: April 5th, 2013

MONTPELIER, Vt. (Friday, April 5) – U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy, Bernie Sanders, Congressman Peter Welch, and Governor Peter Shumlin announced Friday that the U.S. Department of Economic Development (EDA) has awarded the Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) a $1.6 million grant to help deploy disaster resilient cellular and broadband services to towns impacted by Irene and other 2011 flooding. The grant comes from disaster funding Leahy, Sanders, and Welch fought to include in the 2012 federal budget in the wake of Irene.

Broadband Grant Areas Added to Current Funding Round

RELEASE DATE: March 29th, 2013

Montpelier, VT – The Vermont Telecommunication Authority (VTA) has created additional broadband Target Grant Areas (TGAs) to be included in their current Notice of Grant Funding. The as yet unserved addresses are being added because two previous grant awards to VTel Wireless have been terminated. All funds awarded are still available to the VTA to fund new solutions to expand broadband.

New Grant Round for Last-mile Broadband Service

RELEASE DATE: February 1st, 2013

Montpelier, Vermont – The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) has announced a new Notice of Grant Funding in the sum of $1 million for broadband expansion in Vermont. The funding will support projects designed to bring service to homes and businesses in two categories: where no broadband is currently offered, and at locations where cell service is the only access to the Internet. This Notice is not for locations where, as part of an existing project, a provider has committed to offering broadband by the end of 2013.

First Two Miles of Newport-to-Hardwick Fiber Route Installed

RELEASE DATE: January 7th, 2013

People in Newport City may have noticed a new cable being installed overhead the past couple of weeks. It’s a fiber optic cable, critical for Vermont’s telecommunication system. The demand for data capacity and speed is rapidly increasing as more business is conducted online, more information is accessed through on-line video, and broadband becomes a tool for full participation in education and the health care system. The 144 strands of fiber in the new route have the capacity to serve multiple service providers and carry huge amounts of data.

Award Will Expand Cell Service in Four Counties

RELEASE DATE: December 28th, 2012

MONTPELIER -- The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) Board has approved a $5 million grant to expand cellular service within 21 areas in Bennington, Rutland, Windham, and Windsor counties. The award goes to VTel Wireless, an affiliate of Vermont Telephone based in Springfield. The cellular project, with a total cost of $15 million, will extend mobile voice and data service in two ways. VTEL Wireless will be launching their own retail cellular service, and they will have roaming agreements with multiple major cell carriers.

Fiber on the First Leg of Orange County Fiber Connector Has Been Hung

RELEASE DATE: November 30th, 2012

Some of the most significant concentrations of homes and business in Vermont that do not yet have access to broadband internet services are in Orange County and a neighboring portion of northern Windsor County. The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) is investing state funds to help change that.

Bethel Cell Tower Progress

RELEASE DATE: November 26th, 2012

A milestone in expanding cell service coverage in central Vermont was reached on Monday, November 19th in Bethel, as the Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) completed construction on the first state-funded telecom tower facility.

VTA News - We've Moved!

RELEASE DATE: October 31st, 2012

After working from offices in the National Life complex since the Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) was formed, the VTA recently moved to downtown Montpelier. Our address is 100 State Street, Suite 342, Montpelier, VT 05620-3205. Phone numbers remain the same.

Hardwick-to-Newport Fiber Optic Project Begins

RELEASE DATE: October 8th, 2012

Newport - Bringing broadband service to every household and business in Vermont is taking one big step forward in the Northeast Kingdom. Construction of a fiber optic line from Newport to Hardwick will soon begin. It is one piece of a regionwide effort to expand broadband and cellular services. Once complete, users along the fiber optic line’s route can be served directly, and improved broadband capacity well beyond the route itself will be available for distribution through wireless and other technologies.

Vermont Telecom Authority Awards Broadband Grant to FairPoint

RELEASE DATE: September 4th, 2012

Montpelier - The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) has announced an award to FairPoint Communications in the amount of $330,200 to expand broadband services in 3 Vermont communities. An additional 44 locations in Barnet, Ryegate and Rochester will have access to broadband at speeds of 5 Mbps because of the project, meeting the grant’s requirement to offer a combined upload and download speed of 5 Mbps, with a minimum upload of 1 megabit per second. The project is scheduled to be completed prior to December 31, 2013.

Vermont Telecom Authority Awards Broadband Grant to VTel Wireless

RELEASE DATE: September 4th, 2012

Montpelier- The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) has announced an award to VTel Wireless, of $1,347,840, to expand broadband services in 19 Vermont communities. An additional 306 locations in Arlington, Bennington, Braintree, Brattleboro, Chittenden, Corinth, Danville, Dover, Dummerston, Lyndon, Pittsford, Pownal, Putney, Randolph, Shaftsbury, St. Johnsbury, Westminister, Whitingham and Wilmington will have access to broadband at speeds of at least 5 Mbps meeting the grant’s requirement to offer a combined upload and download speed of 5 Mbps.

VTA Seeks Public Input on State Telecommunications Needs Post-2013

RELEASE DATE: August 28th, 2012

Montpelier — The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) is seeking public input on its work with telecommunications infrastructure in Vermont post-2013 in a Public Comment Session to be held over Vermont Interactive Television (VIT) on September 5, 2012 from 4-7 PM. Through this process, the VTA aims to gather information about the telecommunications industry as Vermonters experience it. Comments will be sought from the general public on how they see the telecommunications needs changing in Vermont, and what they think are the most important goals and objectives for th

Governor Shumlin and VTA Break Ground at Bethel Cellular Site

RELEASE DATE: August 1st, 2012

Montpelier, VT (August 1, 2012) – Gov. Peter Shumlin and the Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) announced today plans to construct a communications tower in Bethel that will expand mobile broadband and voice service on VT Route 12 and VT Route 107 in Bethel and connect back to existing coverage on I-89. To the south, it extends the coverage at the fork of VT Route 12 and VT Route 107. To the north, it extends the coverage at the intersection of VT Route 12 and Camp Brook Road. To the east, it connects to existing coverage on I-89.

Vermont FiberConnect Project hits milestone

RELEASE DATE: July 19th, 2012

BELLOWS FALLS, VT – July 19, 2012 Sovernet Fiber Corp. and the Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) announced today that the Vermont FiberConnect (VFC) project has recently completed constructing the first 100 miles of fiber optic network. This important milestone comes as the project heads into its final year, with completion of the 821 mile network scheduled for June 30, 2013.

VTA Announces Orange County Fiber Connector Project

RELEASE DATE: June 28th, 2012

Montpelier - The Vermont Telecommunications Authority announced today that it will invest in the construction of fiber optic cable along key routes in Orange County and a neighboring portion of northern Windsor County. The VTA plans to build the fiber optic facility, approximately 36 miles in length, along State Routes 110, 113 and 132 in the Towns of Chelsea, Vershire, West Fairlee, Thetford, Strafford, and Sharon.

Vermont Telecom Authority Awards Comcast Broadband Grant

RELEASE DATE: June 27th, 2012

Montpelier - The Vermont Telecommunications Authority(VTA) has announced an award to cable service provider Comcastof $247,000 to expand broadband services in three Vermont communities. An additional 56 locations in Braintree, Shaftsbury and Pownal will have access to broadband at speeds up to 100 Mbps because of the project, substantially exceeding the grant’s minimum requirement to offer a combined upload and download speed of 5 Mbps.

Telecom Authority Awards Topsham Communications Broadband Grant

RELEASE DATE: June 27th, 2012

Montpelier - The Vermont Telecommunications Authority(VTA) has announced a $378,200 grant award to Topsham Communications, LLC. The company is a subsidiary of Topsham Telephone Company, Inc., which operates in the East Corinth area and traces its roots to 1907. The grant supports deployment of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband infrastructure over 36 miles in the Northeast Topsham and North Bradford communities.

Gov. Shumlin turns on new broadband service for north central Vermont

RELEASE DATE: June 6th, 2012

PLAINFIELD—Gov. Peter Shumlin and Karen Marshall, Chief of Connect Vermont, today announced the extension of broadband service to 4000 potential customers in north central Vermont from Cloud Alliance. A funding partnership between Cloud Alliance, the Vermont Telecommunications Authority and Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation made the build-out of four new tower sites in the network possible. The project provides for new service to homes and businesses in Woodbury, Hardwick and Wolcott and parts of Elmore, Greensboro, Walden and Cabot.

VTA and CoverageCo Sign Contract for Improved Cellular Coverage

RELEASE DATE: June 1st, 2012

Montpelier, VT – The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) has signed a contract with wholesale cellular service provider CoverageCo of Cambridge, MA. Later this year, CoverageCo will provide cellular coverage in parts of rural northern Vermont previously unserved by carriers.

Vermont Telecommunications Authority Announces Availability of $3.6 Million in Grants for Broadband

RELEASE DATE: March 14th, 2012

Montpelier, Vermont (March 14, 2012) - The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) has announced a Notice of Grant Funds in the sum of $3.6 million for broadband expansion in Vermont. The purpose of the grants is to extend broadband service availability where it is currently not offered and where no provider has already committed to bring broadband by the end of 2013.

VTA to Negotiate Contracts for Cellular Service Expansion

RELEASE DATE: December 1st, 2011

Montpelier — The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) has announced its intention to negotiate contracts with two companies for the purposes of expanding cellular service in unserved Target Corridors and Drop Zones.

VTA TO FUND COOPERATIVE FIBER OPTIC PROJECT IN NORTHEAST KINGDOM

RELEASE DATE: November 23rd, 2011

The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) announced today its intention to fund a multi-provider fiber communications link between Newport and Hardwick. VTA funds in the amount of $500,000 for construction of the fiber link were authorized in Act 53 of the 2011-2012 legislative session. VTA intends to ensure that the design of the proposed facility will include fiber strands which can be used for middle-mile and last-mile broadband purposes, as called for in the authorizing legislation.

Stephan Morse Joins VTA Board

RELEASE DATE: November 22nd, 2011

Montpelier, Vermont - Stephan Morse, former Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives, recently accepted a seat on the Board of Directors of the Vermont Telecommunications Authority. Stephan re-joins the VTA after a brief hiatus. A lifelong Vermonter and resident of Newfane, he is highly engaged at the state and local levels in education, economic development, and as an Environmental Commissioner for the Act 250 Board. He also serves on several non-profit boards including Marlboro College and Grace Cottage Hospital.

VTA Announces New Board Members

RELEASE DATE: September 13th, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Deb Shannon (802) 828-3224 Director of Broadband Outreach and Coordination Vermont Telecommunications Authority

Telecom Authority Seeks Public Comments on Broadband and Fiber

RELEASE DATE: September 9th, 2011

MONTPELIER - The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) seeks public input on issues affecting high-speed internet coverage in Vermont, and how the VTA can best support broadband expansion using state funds appropriated in its FY2012 capital appropriation. In addition to comments related to broadband generally, comments specifically on expansion of fiber optic facilities are also being solicited.

VTA Announces Expansion of VTel Wireless 4G Wireless Service in Southeast Vermont

RELEASE DATE: August 8th, 2011

Montpelier — The Vermont Telecommunications Authority and VTel Wireless have reached an agreement regarding Target Communities selected to receive broadband services.

In The News

BroadbandVT.org