Vermont has gotten initial approval for a large sum of federal dollars to help expand and improve high-speed internet access to rural areas across the state.On Thursday, The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced that Vermont is one of three states to have their initial proposal for access to federal funding approved through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.Oklahoma and Montana also had their initial proposals approved.The BEAD program is a $42 billion state grant program that stems from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. That law, which took effect in November 2021, aims to expand broadband internet access to rural communities across the country.Vermont is now eligible to take the next steps in getting approval for a pot of $228 million in federal money that is earmarked for helping to bring high-speed connectivity to previously underserved areas across the state. “Today, Montana, Oklahoma, and Vermont can move their Internet for All efforts from planning to action,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson in a prepared statement. “I congratulate the Montana, Oklahoma, and Vermont State Broadband Offices for developing strong proposals for how they will connect all of their residents to high-speed Internet service.” States were required to submit an initial proposal detailing how they plan to spend the amount of money allocated for high-speed internet access projects. All states were required to submit their proposals by December 2023. Now, Vermont will have to submit a final proposal detailing next steps within one calendar year of the initial proposal’s approval.”There are more than 33,000 homes, small businesses and farms in Vermont that don’t have access to a high-speed connection and are being left behind in the digital transformation,” Sen. Peter Welch said in a prepared statement. “Today’s announcement by the NTIA and the Department of Commerce is welcome and exciting news, and is a step forward in our coordinated effort to get Vermont connected.” More initial proposals for other states are expected to be approved in the coming weeks, according to the NTIA.
Vermont has gotten initial approval for a large sum of federal dollars to help expand and improve high-speed internet access to rural areas across the state.
On Thursday, The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced that Vermont is one of three states to have their initial proposal for access to federal funding approved through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.
Oklahoma and Montana also had their initial proposals approved.
The BEAD program is a $42 billion state grant program that stems from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. That law, which took effect in November 2021, aims to expand broadband internet access to rural communities across the country.
Vermont is now eligible to take the next steps in getting approval for a pot of $228 million in federal money that is earmarked for helping to bring high-speed connectivity to previously underserved areas across the state.
“Today, Montana, Oklahoma, and Vermont can move their Internet for All efforts from planning to action,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson in a prepared statement. “I congratulate the Montana, Oklahoma, and Vermont State Broadband Offices for developing strong proposals for how they will connect all of their residents to high-speed Internet service.”
States were required to submit an initial proposal detailing how they plan to spend the amount of money allocated for high-speed internet access projects. All states were required to submit their proposals by December 2023.
Now, Vermont will have to submit a final proposal detailing next steps within one calendar year of the initial proposal’s approval.
“There are more than 33,000 homes, small businesses and farms in Vermont that don’t have access to a high-speed connection and are being left behind in the digital transformation,” Sen. Peter Welch said in a prepared statement. “Today’s announcement by the NTIA and the Department of Commerce is welcome and exciting news, and is a step forward in our coordinated effort to get Vermont connected.”
More initial proposals for other states are expected to be approved in the coming weeks, according to the NTIA.
