At Waitsfield Telecom Champlain Valley, thousands of customers are connected to the Internet thanks to its network of fiber optic cables.”Every single day our technicians and our crews are out there building additional fiber optics and connecting customers,” said Kurt Gruendling, with Waitsfield Telecom Champlain Valley.Even with Internet access so vital in the 21st century, there are still thousands of households in the Green Mountain State that still aren’t connected to broadband.The Vermont Comunity Broadband Board wants to change that.”People who are not connected to the Internet today, primarily are people who are lower income. So there’s an affordability gap and there’s an opportunity gap,” said Christine Hallquist, executive director of the Vermont Community Broadband Board.The group is working with providers across the state to get all Vermont households connected.It’s made possible in part thanks to federal efforts like the Affordable Connectivity Program, or ACP.ACP allows tens of millions of Americans to reduce their internet service costs by up to $30 per month and gives eligible families a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop or a tablet.The White House said there are 100,000 Vermont households that qualify for ACP.”(Having Internet at home) allows folks to be able to do homework. It allows people to look for a job online and to just enjoy being online,” said Herbie Ziskend, special assistant to President Joe Biden and senior advisor for communications to the vice president.”High-speed Internet is not a luxury, it’s a necessity,” Vice President Kamala Harris said at a news conference on Thursday.This week, Harris announced the rollout of GetInternet.gov, which allows Americans to see if they qualify for ACP.”When you log on there you can check to see if you qualify. You can find a plan and you can sign up,” Harris said.At Waitsfield Telecom, employees are familiar with the cost-saving program and are happy to lend a helping hand.”Each and every day our employees are out there making it happen,” Gruendling said.The utility company is proud to help connect more Vermonters to the Internet.
At Waitsfield Telecom Champlain Valley, thousands of customers are connected to the Internet thanks to its network of fiber optic cables.
“Every single day our technicians and our crews are out there building additional fiber optics and connecting customers,” said Kurt Gruendling, with Waitsfield Telecom Champlain Valley.
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Even with Internet access so vital in the 21st century, there are still thousands of households in the Green Mountain State that still aren’t connected to broadband.
The Vermont Comunity Broadband Board wants to change that.
“People who are not connected to the Internet today, primarily are people who are lower income. So there’s an affordability gap and there’s an opportunity gap,” said Christine Hallquist, executive director of the Vermont Community Broadband Board.
The group is working with providers across the state to get all Vermont households connected.
It’s made possible in part thanks to federal efforts like the Affordable Connectivity Program, or ACP.
ACP allows tens of millions of Americans to reduce their internet service costs by up to $30 per month and gives eligible families a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop or a tablet.
The White House said there are 100,000 Vermont households that qualify for ACP.
“(Having Internet at home) allows folks to be able to do homework. It allows people to look for a job online and to just enjoy being online,” said Herbie Ziskend, special assistant to President Joe Biden and senior advisor for communications to the vice president.
“High-speed Internet is not a luxury, it’s a necessity,” Vice President Kamala Harris said at a news conference on Thursday.
This week, Harris announced the rollout of GetInternet.gov, which allows Americans to see if they qualify for ACP.
“When you log on there you can check to see if you qualify. You can find a plan and you can sign up,” Harris said.
At Waitsfield Telecom, employees are familiar with the cost-saving program and are happy to lend a helping hand.
“Each and every day our employees are out there making it happen,” Gruendling said.
The utility company is proud to help connect more Vermonters to the Internet.
