VTA lauches Orange County fiber connector projects

The Vermont Telecommunications Authority announced today that it will invest in the construction of fiber optic cable along key routes in Orange County and a neighboring portion of northern Windsor County. The VTA plans to build the fiber optic facility, approximately 36 miles in length, along State Routes 110, 113 and 132 in the Towns of Chelsea, Vershire, West Fairlee, Thetford, Strafford, and Sharon.

These areas have been identified by Connect Vermont, a part of the Agency of Administration, as having the State’s greatest need for fiber optic facilities. These communities contain some of the most significant concentrations of homes and business that do not have access to broadband in the State. They also contain substantial and difficult-to-cover areas without cellular service.

VTA is authorized to spend up to $800,000 to plan and construct the dark fiber project. Strands from the project will be available from the VTA to broadband and mobile service providers. By lighting up these strands, providers will be able to connect “last mile” broadband customers along the fiber route, as well as connecting their own additional broadband or cellular network facilities to state and regional telecommunications networks. The VTA project will enable service providers to reach more deeply into the communities along the project route cost-effectively. Funding for the project was made possible by an appropriation by the Legislature in the FY2012 Capital Budget.

Christopher Campbell, Executive Director of the VTA described the decision: “The VTA is making an investment in fiber optic facilities that can be shared by multiple service providers. We see this as an opportunity to work together to lower the capital costs for providing broadband and mobile service in this region and to help those service providers stretch their own dollars further, reaching more Vermonters.”

Karen Marshall, Chief of Connect Vermont said of the Board decision: “This is a strategic investment of state funds in a fiber backbone to provide new broadband connections fiber media converter and consumer choice in the most unserved area of the state. “

June 28, 2012

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