Mon, 05/17/2021 - 10:03am tim
Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Public Service invites applications from individual Communications Union Districts (CUDs), groups of Communications Union Districts or partners of Communications Union Districts for funds to facilitate the construction of broadband networks capable of speeds of at least 100 Mbps symmetrical.
As provided by Sec. 21(b) of Act 9, which became law on April 16, 2021, the purpose of the CUD Pre-Construction and Capacity Building Grant Program is to provide grants to Communications Union Districts (CUDs) and their partners. Costs eligible for funding under this Program include consultant fees, professional services, administrative expenses, staffing, and any other planning and preconstruction costs deemed appropriate by the Commissioner of Public Service.
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MONTPELIERÂ â Sen. Randy Brock was answering a question Tuesday morning about the Senate s version of H. 360, a bill setting the framework for building out universal high-speed broadband across Vermont, when his Zoom feed suddenly gave out and he disappeared from the Senate s virtual ranks. We have a broadband issue right here, right now, Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, the ex-officio Senate President, said.Â
Brock, R-Franklin, returned in plenty of time for the Senate to unanimously pass the bill, which proposes spending millions in federal aid to assure universal access to high-speed broadband for education, health, business and telecommuting. A formal third reading vote is set for Wednesday. Â
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Iâm back from a week as guest news editor of the Bennington Banner, and while Iâve been busy, the Legislature has been busier.
This weekâs to-do list for lawmakers is significant for the important issues theyâll be taking up this week, as well as their goal of adjourning by May 22.
Tuesday, the House Ways & Means Committee is expected to move along S. 13, the per-pupil weighting implementation study, with any changes it may have proposed to what the House Education Committee passed. Hereâs a quick link to testimony in front of the committee last week.
Rep. Kimberly Jessup (D-Middlesex)
As of this week the legislature still aims to finish their work by May 22 although it remains to be seen how the negotiations between Governor Phil Scott and Democratic leaders in the House and Senate will play out. Secretary of Administration Susanne Young sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee this week outlining the governor’s position on the Senate version of H.439. The memo indicates the governor cannot support the bill unless significant reallocations of American Recuse Plan Act (ARPA) funds are made.
The governor’s position is that ARPA funding was used in the Senate version of the budget for programmatic and ongoing appropriations that in his opinion should be funded with General Fund dollars. The letter from Secretary Young outlines the specific changes the governor is requesting relating to economic recovery, climate change, clean water funding, housing, broadband deployment and other sections of the budget.
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Imagine if you were baking a birthday cake and you had the benefit of having the Vermont Senate Finance Committee helping you.
Thatâs what itâs like as we debate how to extend broadband throughout Vermont. The birthday we want to celebrate is coming soon and we have to make decisions about what kind of cake we want, who will bake it and how it will be delivered. None of us on the committee have ever baked a cake before and several have never even used an oven. What could go wrong?