Affordable Long Drop Program Now Available to Help Eligible Vermonters Connect to Fiber Broadband

Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) is encouraging eligible Vermonters to take advantage of the Affordable Long Drop Program, which helps pay the cost of connecting homes to fiber broadband service. Funding for the program is currently scheduled to end in September, creating a limited-time opportunity for Vermonters that have delayed connecting because of installation costs.

The Affordable Long Drop Program assists eligible providers to cover the cost of long or nonstandard broadband connections, including underground installations. These costs can sometimes reach thousands of dollars and may prevent households from connecting to available fiber broadband service.

A long drop is the connection that runs from broadband infrastructure along the road to a home or business. While providers typically cover the cost of standard installations, customers may be responsible for additional costs when a connection is unusually long or requires specialized construction. The Affordable Long Drop Program helps reduce or eliminate those costs for eligible Vermonters.

The program prioritizes support for manufactured home communities, low- and moderate-income households, and customers who have committed to broadband service but face unusually high connection costs.

Funding for the Affordable Long Drop Program is currently scheduled to end in September. Providers offering the Affordable Long Drop Program include WCVT , which operates in parts of Addison, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, and Washington Counties; Franklin Telephone Co., Inc, which operates in part of Franklin County; ECFiber , which operates in parts of Addison, Orange, Rutland, and Windsor Counties; DVFiber , which operates in parts of Windham, Bennington, and Windsor Counties; Maple Broadband , which operates in part of Addison County; and NEK Broadband / CVFiber , which together operate in parts of Caledonia, Essex, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, and Washington Counties. Contact your provider directly to find out if you're eligible for the program. More information about the Affordable Long Drop Program is available on our website .

Read the full press release.