News
The Vermont Community Broadband Board, which was awarded over $229 million in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program funding, is seeking proposals from eligible service providers for the BEAD Subrecipient Support Program.
Municipalities, co-ops, utilities, for-profits, and non-profits are among the organizations eligible for BEAD Subrecipient Support Program, which will provide funds to promote the ability for providers to participate in Vermont’s broadband buildout.
The Vermont Community Broadband Board announced applications would be accepted earlier this month on their website and reported that $1 million has been approved “to provide needs-based grants to eligible internet service providers.”
The BEAD Subrecipient Support Program, which was established by the Vermont Community Broadband Board, seeks to “ensure (eligible providers) have the resources required to participate in the competitive BEAD grant program,” the Vermont Community Broadband Board’s announcement earlier this month stated.
Rob Fish, the deputy director of the Vermont Community Broadband Board, said applying for BEAD Program funding can be a big lift for providers.
“Especially a small, new, or non-traditional provider,” he said. “Applying takes time and money and is resource intensive.”
Fish’s comments, which were included in the Vermont Community Broadband Board’s Jan. announcement, explained that Vermont created the Subrecipient Support Program as a needs-based program for providers.
“The program’s support will help the state ensure we have a robust process that will make the most effective use of federal dollars and ensure every rural Vermonter gets connected,” he said.
Awards from the support program will range from $10,000 to $200,000, according to the Vermont Community Broadband Board. The organization said the money can be used for “planning, analysis, stakeholder engagement, collaboration, and short-term capacity necessary to plan and draft an application to the BEAD program.”
Responses from providers for Vermont’s BEAD Subrecipient Support Program will be accepted Jan. 29, Feb. 19, and March 18, or until funds are exhausted, the state’s broadband board announced.
Click here for more information about the Vermont Community Broadband Board’s BEAD Subrecipient Support Program.
