Vermont allocates almost $8 million to low-income broadband program

The Vermont Community Broadband Board has approved funding for a statewide program that will help around 2,000 low-income households in remote areas connect to a high-speed broadband network. The board has allocated almost $8 million from its American Rescue Plan Act funding for the Affordable Long Drop program, which will cover the extra costs that households located at the end of long driveways incur. Generally, homes that are within 400 feet of the high-speed fiber cables running along the road can be connected to the network without additional costs. Homeowners who are farther up a driveway have to pay extra. "For customers who live far from the road or where the connection to the home is underground, costs above and beyond our standard installation fee can be prohibitive," said Ellie de Villiers, executive director of Maple Broadband, an Addison County communications union district. " I am thrilled that these costs will no longer have to be a barrier to getting people connected."