R-201 Page 1 of 1
2024
No. R-201. House concurrent resolution honoring the organizations and individuals working to resolve Vermont’s rural broadband access crisis through communications union districts.
(H.C.R.147)
Offered by: Representatives Masland of Thetford, Anthony of Barre City, Arrison of
Weathersfield, Bongartz of Manchester, Branagan of Georgia, Buss of Woodstock,
Chesnut-Tangerman of Middletown Springs, Demrow of Corinth, Farlice-Rubio of Barnet,
Harrison of Chittenden, Hooper of Burlington, McCann of Montpelier, Page of Newport City, Patt of Worcester, Priestley of Bradford, Roberts of Halifax, Sibilia of Dover, Sims of Craftsbury, and Torre of Moretown Whereas, in order to solve Vermont’s rural broadband access crisis, the General Assembly has enacted, among other measures, 2021 Acts and Resolves No. 71, An act relating to accelerated community broadband deployment, the legislation that authorized the formation of the Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) and the Vermont Community Broadband Fund (VCBF), and Whereas, the legislative intent is directly implemented through the 10 regional Communications Union Districts (CUDs), each of which consists of multiple communities and is legally recognized as a municipality, and Whereas, located throughout Vermont, the 10 CUDs are Chittenden County CUD,
CVFiber (Central Vermont), DVFiber (Southeastern Vermont), ECFiber (East-Central Vermont), Lamoille FiberNet, Maple Broadband (Addison County), NEK Broadband,
Northwest FiberworX, Otter Creek CUD (Rutland County), and Southern Vermont CUD
(Southwestern Vermont), and Whereas, the 10 CUDs, which are dedicated to extending broadband service to locations that are challenging for other providers, have jointly established the Vermont Communications Union District Association (VCUDA) to serve as an institutional support and advocacy organization on their behalf, and Whereas, in 2023, the CUDs achieved important milestones on the path to statewide access to world-class broadband coverage, and the enhanced economic, educational, and entertainment options this offers, through constructing and inaugurating new fiber optic segments, adding new customers in communities and areas that have lacked reliable high-
quality broadband service, and solidifying plans toward the achievement of the CUD’s ultimate comprehensive statewide coverage goal, now therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly honors the organizations and individuals working to resolve Vermont’s rural broadband access crisis through communications union districts, and be it further Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
each Communications Union District, the Vermont Communications Union District Association, and the Vermont Community Broadband Board.
VT LEG #374575 v.1