March News: Hiring, Webinar, and More

CVFiber leadership held a webinar on March 1 that provided a thorough update on our progress. You can read a brief summary below; the entire presentation, including numerous illustrations, is available online at https://cvfiber.net/2023/02/webinar-update-on-progress

Here’s a rundown of the news in this update.

  • Construction and Planning Continues to Progress
  • Town ARPA Contributions Eligible for State Match
  • VTC Offers Free Training for Broadband Installers
  • CVFiber Seeks Full Time Community Relations Manager

Construction Update Webinar Available

We continue to move forward with construction on our high-speed fiber network, and within a few months we’ll be welcoming our first subscribers on board. All the latest news was offered in a March 1 webinar featuring Jerry Diamantides, chair of the CVFiber Governing Board.

Construction crews are doing the work in Calais, so watch for them if you’re out and about. Please remember to share the road! If you see work crews and trucks, slow down and give them plenty of space.

So far, the fiber network has been built past 69 homes. We’ve got about 6,000 addresses to reach, so there’s a long way to go. And more work needs to be done on network infrastructure before we can connect our first subscribers.

As a reminder, our construction plan divides the CVFiber district into 24 construction areas. These do not coincide with town borders; they were drawn with engineering considerations in mind. The first area includes most of Calais, one of the most underserved communities in our district.

The plan is to finish roughly 400 miles of our 1,200-mile network in 2023, starting at the northeastern corner of the district and working south and southwest through the most underserved communities in our district. We will reach all or part of the following towns this year: Cabot, Calais, East Montpelier, Marshfield, Middlesex, Woodbury and Worcester. Underserved locations are top priority.

Network design has been finalized in eight of our 24 construction areas, including all or part of Calais, Middlesex, Moretown, Woodbury and Worcester. Design is in process in parts of Berlin, Duxbury and Marshfield.

We’ve upgraded our website, so give us a visit at https://cvfiber.net/ if you haven’t lately. On our homepage, you can add your name to our email contact list. It’s the best way to keep up with all our activities. Also, once you’re on the list, you’ll be notified when service is reaching your area and you’ll be shown how to to pre-register for service.

Town ARPA Contributions Matched by VCBB

Three of our 20 member towns have taken full advantage of a matching funds offer by granting CVFiber at least $100,000 from their federal American Relief Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The other 17 towns have room to increase their commitments and get the most matching funds possible. The Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) will match up to $100,000 from each town, doubling the town’s purchasing power. All grant and match funds will be spent entirely within the granting town’s borders to connect the underserved. This offer will expire on May 31! Contact your select board or City Council if you’d like to get the most bang for your broadband buck.

Free Broadband Installer Technician Apprenticeship Program

Are you or someone you know looking for a new job/career? The Vermont Community Broadband Board, Vermont Department of Labor, and Vermont Technical College are offering a free training course to become a maintenance technician, splicer, or installer. The Broadband Installer Technician Apprenticeship Program is no cost to you and employers are waiting to hire people who have completed the course.

These jobs pay a good wage to start and can lead to careers in information technology trades, smart grid, and engineering trades.

The first training starts in April. For more information or to apply for the program, go to Broadband Installer Apprenticeship – VTC CEWD, email [email protected], or call (802) 547-3653.

CVFiber Seeks Full Time Community Relations Manager

CVFiber is looking for an energetic communications professional for a new, full-time Community Relations Manager position. Time to apply is running short; we’re aiming to fill the post in April. Details at https://cvfiber.net/2023/02/cvfiber-is-hiring-a-community-relations-manager/