Vermont Prepares for Wi-Fi with New Broadband Initiative

The city of Montpelier, Vt., will soon join the ranks of other high-tech cities as it prepares to implement its first Wi-Fi “hotzone” in the central downtown area. With support from Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt), city officials and local businesses, the Vermont Broadband Council recently launched MontpelierNet, a high-speed Internet network that will bring wireless broadband Internet access to the city.

The network is designed to expand and improve high-speed telecommunications services, reduce costs for the city, and provide faster transmission at a lower cost to businesses in the area. MontpelierNet is comprised of three phases, which include:

• Phase One, completed this month, consisting of a wireless network linking City Hall to other facilities, including the waterplant, wastewater treatment plant and town garage;
• Phase Two, providing high-speed, high-capacity Internet connection to the city and to local businesses; and,
• Phase Three, creating the Wi-Fi “hotzone” in central downtown.

Wi-Fi zones, or “hotspots,” enable anyone with a laptop or handheld device access to wireless Internet, a feature that city officials hope will make Montpelier more attractive to new businesses. States having the most hotspots include California, New York, Texas and Washington.

According to an Associated Press story, the monthly cost for subscribing to the service will be between $40 to $50. Wireless technology has lagged in Vermont's rural areas, the article contends, with services for Internet and cell phones varying from town to town.

Sen. Leahy said this plan is a good example of how a city can achieve great outcomes when public and private sectors join forces for the community. Leahy also is credited with securing $375,000 in federal funding for the Vermont Broadband Council to launch the initiative.

Broadband Internet access has been an important issue for the entire state in recent months. In March, Gov. Jim Douglas issued the Vermont Telecommunications Plan for public review and comment, saying deployment of services such as broadband are critical to the economy and a central component of his jobs creations agenda. The initiative would guarantee 100 percent wireless coverage to major transportation arteries and 90 percent coverage to homes and businesses within the next four years. A final draft of the plan was issued earlier this month by the Vermont Department of Public Service.

For more information on MontpelierNet, visit the Vermont Broadband Council at: http://www.vtbroadband.org/

The Vermont Telecommunications Plan is available from ThinkVermont at: http://www.thinkvermont.com/telecommunications/index.cfm