The state is asking for public comments on a newly released draft Telecommunications Plan.
The plan stresses the need to maintain or improve the many ways in which we communicate, but reaching some goals will be a challenge.
Perhaps foremost among them is the target set for faster broadband speeds.
Earlier this year, the legislature established a goal of universal speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) ‘symmetrical’, i.e. upload and download, by 2024.
Speeds this fast would likely involve running fiber optic lines to reach every Vermont address. Currently the majority of the state’s broadband service is DSL or cable.
The goal of universal 100 mbps may be more difficult to reach than that of providing universal broadband coverage, which the state is still working to do.
The draft plan says Vermont now has 99 percent broadband coverage, with plans in place to provide service to the remaining 1 percent.
In light of the state’s statutory and financial limits reaching the 2024 goal is going to be a challenge.
Department of Public Service Telecommunications Director Jim Porter calls it, “A very ambitious goal and one that would likely require a lot of money to get there.”
The draft plan envisions these broadband goals:
- Every address in Vermont should have broadband Internet access with the minimum technical requirements of 4 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 1 Mbps upload.
- By year end 2020, a majority of addresses in Vermont should have access to the Internet at speeds of at least 100 Mbps symmetrical.
- By 2024, every address should have broadband speeds of 100 Mbps symmetrical.
- Most addresses in Vermont should have access to wired and wireless broadband Internet access service.
- Broadband service should be affordable to all members of every customer class.
- The state should promote locally generated content that is used and useful to the community.
- Vermont should support the universal adoption and use of broadband service at home and at work.
Porter says in recent years Vermont received the highest per capita investment in federal broadband money to help the state reach nearly universal coverage.
It’s unlikely the state will see a similar expenditure in the future.
Some may come in the form of money the Federal Communications Commission is redirecting from supporting universal telephone service to getting broadband to unserved area.
The FCC decision to redirect funds also creates problems for landline providers like FairPoint Communications, which is already losing money.
In some places companies have asked to abandon their landlines and substitute wireless service to customers.
But Porter says under the new Telecommunications Plan landlines will remain a priority in Vermont at least for the foreseeable future.
The draft plan also deals with goals to improve mobile coverage, Emergency 911 services, and the state government’s use of telecommunications.
The Department of Public Service will hold hearings on the plan:
- Burlington, Monday Aug. 25, Holiday Inn, Oak Room, 1068 Williston Road
- Brattleboro, Tuesday, Aug. 26, Hampton Inn, 1378 Putney Road
- Barre, Wednesday Aug. 27, Alumni Hall, 16 Auditorium Hill Road
- Rutland, Thursday, Aug. 28, Hampton Inn, 47 Farrell Road
All hearings start at 7 p.m.
