Broadband gets big boost in infrastructure bill

A view from Route 12 near the Woodstock-Barnard line. (Gareth Henderson File Photo)

More federal money is coming to Vermont to expand broadband access, now that a new U.S. infrastructure bill has been signed into law.

Vermont will see about $100 million in broadband funding from the $1 trillion infrastructure bill President Joe Biden gave final approval to on Monday. The state also has $250 million in federal relief the Legislature committed to broadband earlier this year, and almost $10 million in recent federal grants for broadband construction planning. 

All told, that’s $350 million — a huge part of the funding needed to connect every Vermont home and business to quality broadband. Last year, the state estimated this would take between $300 million and $500 million. About 51,000 homes in Vermont don’t have any broadband access, according to Vermont Public Radio. 

The federal money will fund the planning and infrastructure for Vermont’s broadband expansion, VPR reports, adding that the work will take four to six years to complete, officials say. Several of Vermont’s communications union districts are expected to start broadband construction work in the spring of 2022. 

For more on the ins and outs of broadband plans in Vermont, check out this discussion on VPR.

State moves to simplify booster registration

The state has announced several changes to make it easier to get a COVID-19 booster shot. 

On Wednesday, Gov. Phil Scott said the online registration process will be simplified, and walk-ins are welcome at state-run vaccination clinics. Additionally, the state will remove the longer list of criteria for boosters on its registration website.

The announcement came as officials are urging all Vermonters over age 18 to register for their boosters. About 50% of Vermonters over the age of 65 have received a booster shot. 

“If it has been six months since you received your Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two months since your Johnson and Johnson vaccine, please make registering for a booster a priority,” Scott said in a statement. 

Vermonters can register for booster doses at healthvermont.gov/myvaccine or by calling 855-722-7878.

This week, Vermont joined a growing list of states who have expanded booster eligibility to all adults. Maine and Massachusetts have also done so.

— Gareth Henderson