A divide exposed

The "digital divide" is now even more of a stark reality in rural areas that have historically struggled with woeful internet or cell phone service — or no service. With many working or studying from home amid the health crisis, those shortcomings have morphed into glaring gaps, and Vermont lawmakers say the urgency is building to fix them.

"It has exposed the truth that we don't have equity as far as access to broadband," said Rep. Charlie Kimbell, who represents Woodstock, Reading and Plymouth. "We knew it was a problem before, and now we really have to address it."

Windsor County Sen. Dick McCormack, of Bethel, said there are kids getting digital instruction from home for school, while some have to leave their home to get the resources they need for instruction because of the lack of connectivity.

However, McCormack said he thought educators are working hard to serve the students during these difficult circumstances.

"Everybody is doing the best they can," he said.

Speaking of access, some are hoping recent federal stimulus funds will be available to communications union districts, or CUDs — such as ECFiber in east-central Vermont, which provides high-speed fiber-optic connections to subscribers in 24 member towns. Rep. Tim Briglin, chair of the Vermont House Energy and Technology Committee, said Thursday his committee hopes that's the case, but it's unclear so far. There are four other CUDs in the state, including one recently established in the long-underserved Northeast Kingdom.

Over the long term, Briglin, of Thetford, whose two-seat district is served by ECFiber, hopes to see electric utilities get into the connectivity space as well. He said legislation approved last year opened the door for that to happen, and his committee is in discussions with the utilities. The same legislation raised money to support the formation of up to 10 CUDs in Vermont.

Briglin said it was important for the broadband discussion to include electric utilities, since, over the next 10 years, customers will increasingly need high-speed internet to take advantage of new service offerings.

In his district, Briglin said, affordability is usually what prevents households from having high-speed broadband access. He also said the issue is "multi-faceted."

"Once you give the access, they might not have a laptop computer," he said. "It's not a simple problem."

It's an issue that gets complicated quickly, but in Vermont, we've got the innovation to make progress on this issue. Funding is key, and for families, the affordability problem is particularly acute now, with COVID-19's financial impact building up fast. However, there are many efforts afoot to help, including in the connectivity space. The following is offered via ECFiber’s website:

"Until further notice, ValleyNet, the non-profit company that designs, builds and operates the fiber-to-the-home network for ECFiber, will install internet to any serviceable address at no cost to families whose school-age children are eligible for WIC or Reduced/Free Lunch programs at school. The internet service will also be provided at no cost through the end of June."

That's the community spirit Vermont is built on, and we'll move through the current challenges with that supporting us.

— Gareth Henderson