According to the Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA), cable for more than 32 miles of the 36 mile Orange County Fiber Connector has been hung on utility poles, and seven miles of the system is already active.
The VTA says the entire line should be active by year’s end.
ECFiber Network and Fairpoint Communications have lease agreements with the state to use the line to provide service to customers along sections of Vermont Routes 110, 113 and 132 in the Towns of Chelsea, Vershire, West Fairlee, Thetford, Strafford, and Sharon.
The route includes what the VTA considers “significant concentrations” of unserved homes and businesses.
The fiber can also be used by cellular phone service carriers.
The system was built using $930,000 of state money authorized by the legislature.
