Dear Vermont Internet User:

Super-fast Internet service could be coming soon to your area. As you might know, the "digital superhighway" doesn’t quite reach many rural areas of Vermont, or at least not in a form that is affordable by individuals and small businesses. Instead, many of us rely on dial-up Internet service, which is exceedingly slow compared to high-speed connections available elsewhere in Vermont.

Many community groups are working to change that. With support from the Vermont Council on Rural Development's Rural Broadband Project, individuals and small businesses who recognize a need for affordable broadband in their area are banding together to make the needs of their community known, and to make sure that a service is provided.

The benefits can be tremendous. People who work with computers at home could send and receive large documents, including critical software updates and fixes. Folks who like streaming video or on-line games would enjoy higher speeds. Our towns would be more attractive to the kinds of clean, quiet businesses we’d like to recruit.

If you've made it to this web site, you probably understand at least the Basics of Broadband and its benefits. New Internet service technologies for rural areas are making expanded affordable broadband possible, but any service still needs a minimum number of customers to be viable. The goal of this project is to connect individuals who need service with local community groups that are trying to bring services into their area. Where no active groups exist, we can help you start a local Community Internet Project. We'll also let you know if new services become available in your area. What we won't do is ever give out your personal information -- it will be up to you to act on any information we provide.

To participate, we will need to know who and where you are. If you live near one of the active Community Broadband Projects, please click on that project name to register with your local effort. If you don't see your area listed, please go to the Statewide Registry to record your information. We'll put you in touch with other like-minded souls in your area or with new local projects as they are created. We'll also let you know if we hear of any new services that might become available to your location. It is important that you provide the E-911 address of the location where you need service -- the viability of any service will be based on your specific location. And make sure you give us some way to reach you (preferable e-mail). We won't be giving out your information, so we need a way to let you know what is going on.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to Contact Us. VCRD's mission is to bring resources to Vermont's rural areas, but it is up to the local communities to drive their own projects. Be a part of progress in your town.