The Newport Daily Express

VCUDA Cheers H.360, Seeks Applications for Appointment to Broadband Board

The Vermont Communication Union District Association (VCUDA) applauds Governor Phil Scott’s signing of H.360, the 2021 broadband bill, which puts communities in charge of investing once-in-a-generation federal funding for the build out of rural broadband networks.

The state’s nine communication union districts (CUD), which together represent 190 individual municipalities, are dedicated to the mission of bringing broadband to all on-grid homes and businesses in their communities.

“We want to thank Governor Scott and the legislature for backing a CUD-centric approach to accomplishing the goal of making broadband ubiquitous in our state,” said F. X. Flinn, Chair of VCUDA and ECFiber. “ECFiber is proof of concept that CUDs can get the job done for rural Vermonters.” ECFiber became Vermont’s first CUD in 2016, and now serves over 6,050 customers in 31 towns of east central Vermont, stretching from Windsor to Newbury along the Connecticut River and west to the Green Mountains.

The new law creates the Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) to direct the use of the new Vermont Community Broadband Fund, seeded by $150 million in American Recovery Plan Act appropriations.

The role of the VCBB is to provide time-limited leadership for coordinating the buildout of broadband by Vermont’s communications union districts and their partners, for developing financing mechanisms to fully support that buildout, and to support policies and programs designed to accelerate community efforts that advance the State’s goal of achieving universal access to reliable, high-quality, affordable, fixed broadband.

The law gives VCUDA the right to appoint one of five board members.

“It’s a formidable task, but we are anxious to get going,” said Ann Manwaring, Chair of DVFiber, a CUD in the Deerfield Valley region, and VCUDA Treasurer. “We look forward to working with the new broadband board and its executive director on making a real difference in the lives of rural residents.”

Applications Sought for VCUDA Board Appointment VCUDA’s board of directors invites persons interested in serving on the VCBB to submit applications for its consideration.

In addition to the VCUDA appointment, two will be appointed by the Governor, and one each by the Vermont House and Senate. Applications should be emailed toVCBB@ VCUDA.org, and include a submittal letter discussing the opportunity along with a c.v. or resume.

VCUDA is particularly interested in receiving applications from full-time Vermont residents who support community ownership of fiber networks and who understand the current economic and logistical challenges of rural broadband deployment.

By law, the directors of the VCBB may not have any financial interest in or be owners, employees, or members of a governing board of an Internet service provider or a communications union district.

The VCUDA appointment will be through

January 31, 2024, and compensation is provided in the form of per-diem payments and expense reimbursement.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in resolving Vermont’s broadband delivery challenges and securing the digital future for its citizens.

The VCUDA board expects to make its appointment by mid-July.

“We are casting a wide net because we know there is a lot of talent and interest to serve out there,” said Jane Campbell, Chair of Lamoille Fiber and VCUDA Secretary. “If you want to help bring true broadband to every Vermonter, we look forward to hearing from you.”

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https://newportvermontdailyexpress.pressreader.com/article/281612423342783

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