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Press Releases For Release: April 22, 2008 The 2008 Broadband Grant winners were announced today by the Vermont Telecommunications Authority. Canaan/Norton, Canaan/Norton - $50000 EC Fiber (planning), 25 Towns - $25000 Global Net, Fletcher & surrounding area - $50000 Powershift, Elmore, Hardwick - $20000 Ripton Broadband Coop, Ripton - $25000 SVBC, Stamford - $30000 The Vermont Legislature has funded the Broadband Grant Program for four years. Last year it was funded with a $200,000 allocation. The goal of the Program is to create demonstration projects to test viable models for providing broadband to all Vermonters. The Authority was looking for creative ways to extend affordable high-speed Internet access to the unserved and under-served areas of the state and it found them. Utilizing the changes put forth into this year's grant program, the VTA grant committee has targeted some innovating technology in the effort to bring high speed Internet access to Vermonter. This year's grants will utilize Wi-Fi hot spots in the towns of Elmore and Hardwick, fund a town cooperative in Stamford, provide wireless access in Canaan/Norton and Ripton, provide funds to a wireless service provider to utilize a Mt. Mansfield tower in order to reach Fletcher and surrounding towns in northwest Vermont, and to provide planning for a FTTH project in Central Vermont.In all, $200,000 was spread across Vermont. Winners were selected on the basis of a detailed review and selection process. The selection committee includes several members of the Telecommunications Authority's Board of Directors, and representatives from the Department of Economic Development and the Vermont Council on Rural Development. Jerry Johnson, Chair of the Broadband Grant Sub Committee of the VTA, said "There were more and better applicants for the grants this year than in the past reflecting the growing demand by Vermonters for high speed Internet access. Access is essential to our state's economic development, health services, educational programs and first responders. All these applicants will serve those Vermonters who are in need." The applications were judged using several criteria. Among them were: a strong public-private partnership use of the grants as seed money to attract additional funds or contributions availability to everyone in a covered area. For more information, contact: info@telecomVT.org
Charlie Kremer For Release: April 22, 2008 Vermont Telecommunications Authority Awards ECFiber $25,000 Broadband Grant The 2008 Broadband Grant winners were announced today by the Vermont Telecommunications Authority. Six awards were made. ECFiber was one of the winners receiving $25,000. The Vermont Legislature has funded the Broadband Grant Program for four years. Last year it was funded with a $200,000 allocation. The goal of the Program is to create demonstration projects to test viable models for providing broadband to all Vermonters. The Authority was looking for creative ways to extend affordable high-speed Internet access to the unserved and under-served areas of the state and it found them. The unserved communities of Cannan/Norton, Fletcher, Elmore, Hardwick, Ripton and Stamford will also benefit from Broadband Grants this year. Utilizing the changes put forth into this year's grant program, the VTA Grant Committee has targeted some innovating technology in the effort to bring high speed Internet access to Vermonters. This year's grants will utilize Wi-Fi hot spots in the towns of Elmore and Hardwick, fund a town cooperative in Stamford, provide wireless access in Canaan/Norton and Ripton, provide funds to a wireless service provider to utilize a Mt. Mansfield tower in order to reach Fletcher and surrounding towns in northwest Vermont, and to provide planning for ECFiber's FTTH project. In all, $200,000 was spread across Vermont. Winners were selected on the basis of a detailed review and selection process. The selection committee includes several members of the Telecommunications Authority's Board of Directors, and representatives from the Department of Economic Development and the Vermont Council on Rural Development. Jerry Johnson, Chair of the Broadband Grant Sub Committee of the VTA, said "There were more and better applicants for the grants this year than in the past reflecting the growing demand by Vermonters for high speed Internet access. Access is essential to our state's economic development, health services, educational programs and first responders. The ECFiber application meets all the Broadband Grant goals. This is the first year that the grants have been used for planning but the 25 towns have made their message heard loud and clear. They need Internet access now." The applications were judged using several criteria. Among them were: a strong public-private partnership use of the grants as seed money to attract additional funds or contributions availability to everyone in a covered area. For more information, contact: info@telecomVT.org
Charlie Kremer For Release: March 24, 2008 Vermont Telecommunications Authority extends deadline for Broadband Grant Applications to March 31st The Vermont Telecommunications Authority has extended the deadline for applying for a Broadband Grant to March 31st. While the grant program has attracted many applicants on a yearly basis, this year there is an even larger number of towns, companies and organizations applying to bring high-speed Internet access to previously uncovered areas. Applicants have expressed a need to extend the deadline in order to complete the full application. Anyone who needs help or information on the process should contact the Authority at ckremer@telecomVT.org or call (802) 828-1788. Grants are targeted at Vermont communities that do not currently have broadband service, or have limited access to broadband services. This year's $200,000 funding for the program came from a legislative allocation made in 2007. For more information, contact: info@telecomVT.org
Charlie Kremer For Release: February 7, 2008 Vermont Telecom Authority Searching for Applicants for its Broadband Grant Program The Vermont Telecommunications Authority announces the Broadband Grant Program for 2007/2008. The goal of the Program is to create demonstration projects to test viable models for providing broadband to all Vermonters. The Authority is looking for creative ways to extend affordable high-speed Internet access to the unserved and under-served areas of the state. The Vermont Legislature funded the grant program this year with a $200,000 allocation. Grants may be awarded to municipalities, telecommunication infrastructure developers and service providers. No grant can exceed $100,000 for any one project. Anyone who would like to apply should contact the Authority's office at info@telecomVT.org or call 802-828-1788 to request a packet of information explaining the application process. The Authority's staff will provide all applicants with assistance in developing the required business plan. Grants will be targeted at communities or parts of communities that do not currently have broadband service, or have limited access to broadband services. The applications will be judged using several criteria. Among them are: a strong public-private partnership, the use of the grants as seed money to attract additional funds or contributions, and coverage that is available to everyone in a covered area. If the project for example includes a WiFi hotspot, it is suggested that it be located in an area that is frequented by the general public. Winners will be selected on the basis of a detailed review and selection process. The selection committee includes members of the Telecommunications Authority's Board of Directors, the Department of Economic Development and the Vermont Council on Rural Development. Applications should be post-marked or received no later than March 22, 2008. For more information, contact: info@telecomVT.org
Bill Shuttleworth For Release: Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2007 Telecommunications Authority Announces Executive Director Montpelier, VT - The Vermont Telecom Authority (VTA) has hired William "Bill" Shuttleworth as its Executive Director. Shuttleworth will be responsible for guiding Vermont's e-State Initiative - a plan proposed by Governor Douglas and strongly endorsed by the Legislature and all Vermonters to bring mobile phone coverage and high-speed Internet access to every corner of the state by the end of 2010. Shuttleworth graduated from UVM in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He began his career with New England Telephone (later NYNEX and Verizon) in the Burlington area. That was the beginning of his 30 years with the Bell Company. He later worked for Telcordia, and traveled the world designing business models and networks for wire line/wireless carriers in Europe as well as in developing nations. Just before this position with the VTA, Shuttleworth was Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of ORIUS, a construction company that built the physical infrastructure for some of the country's largest phone companies. Bill also has a son who owns and operates a grass-fed organic farm in the Northeast Kingdom. "I am excited about the opportunity. The Authority is the trusted third party that will be able to bring all the service providers in the state together to deliver the critically needed infrastructure and services in support of the e-State Initiative," Shuttleworth said. Governor Douglas said the e-State Initiative is about achieving truly universal access to affordable broadband and wireless technology and building a telecommunications infrastructure where no one is left behind. "The work of the VTA is a critical component of the e-State Initiative and will help Vermont build a stronger, more innovative economy. This infrastructure will form the platform for growth and job creation across every sector of our economy, and I look forward to working with Bill, the VTA board and the Legislature to make more progress in these important areas," Governor Douglas added. Sen. Peter Shumlin, President Pro Tem of the Vermont Senate, commented, "We cannot move fast enough in getting high-speed access to every Vermonter, main roads and back roads. Our quality of life and economic future depends upon it. My family lives on a back road and my business operates out of a converted cow barn on a back road. My wife and daughters yell at me every day because of our dial-up service at home. I am optimistic that with the guidance of Bill Shuttleworth as executive director Vermont can catch up for time lost." Gaye Symington, Speaker of the Vermont House, added, "Vermont is certainly one of the best places to live and work, but to keep it that way we must have world class communications. Vermont workers, students, and tourists need to be on-line at high speeds and we all need to be able to make a cell phone call from anywhere in the State. Our health and our businesses require it. Bill has the expertise we need to bring our vision to fruition." Chairman of the VTA Board Mary Evslin expressed her great pleasure in "finding the perfect person for this position. Bill understands Vermont, understands how traditional phone companies work, has a passion for new technology and is totally committed to the Vermont dream of statewide coverage by the end of 2010." Mr. Shuttleworth will be working out of the VTA office in Montpelier and can be reached at: 802.828.1788, or: wshuttleworth@telecomVT.org. The Vermont Telecommunications Authority was established by legislation initiated by Governor Douglas and approved almost unanimously by the Vermont Legislature in June of 2007 to assure that every Vermonter has high-speed access to the Internet at affordable rates and that mobile phones will work all over the state by the end of 2010. www.telecomVT.org is the place to visit to keep current on relevant news articles about the Internet and communication issues in Vermont. It is also the place to sign up to receive emails notifying you of new communication services in the state and ways in which you can help meet Vermont's goal. For more information, contact: info@telecomVT.org FOR RELEASE October 4, 2007 Virtual Doors Open at VTA Montpelier, VT -- The Vermont Telecommunications Authority doesn't have an office in the real world yet, but its virtual doors are open and ready for business. The newly formed state board, appointed this summer by the leadership of the General Assembly and Governor Douglas, launched its website today at www.telecomVT.org. The VTA is charged with ensuring that high-speed Internet and cell phone service is available in every corner of Vermont by the end of 2010. The new website contains information about the organization, but more importantly, says board chair Mary Evslin, "we wanted to get the website up right away so that we could begin a dialogue about telecommunications with Vermonters." The current version of the VTA website is designed to let Vermonters know that the board's meetings are open to the public and that all Vermonters are welcome to attend in person. For those unable to attend meetings, but who have the time to login in by phone, please request dial-in information using the email address below. The website is also designed to solicit comments, questions, and observations from residents and businesses about how they are affected by telecommunications resources (or the lack thereof) in Vermont. The board expects that the resources offered on the website will be significantly expanded in the coming months. Evslin and the board are additionally in the process of leasing office space in Montpelier and hiring an Executive Director for the Authority. The other board members of the Vermont Telecommunications Authority are Peter Meyer, Jo Bradley, Al Brisard, Jerry Johnson, Robin Lane, Tom Murray, Jeb Spaulding, Dawn Terrill, C.J. Vadnais, and David Zahn. For more information, contact info@telecomVT.org |