Solution details
Platform:
Online
Description:
The VCBB oversees and supports expansion of universal community broadband for the state of Vermont, bringing high-speed internet to small and underserved communities. Many people in rural Vermont still lack access to affordable and reliable high-speed internet. High-speed internet is essential for the economy, education, public health, and staying connected. The board works directly with local Communications Union Districts, providing program coordination, funding allocation, and policy development. For the VCBB to help allocate funding, it needs to communicate statewide internet status to stakeholders, the state, and federal government. Since 2021, Stone has been instrumental in collaborating with the VCBB and partners to collect and disseminate data and manage a comprehensive statewide dataset to show progress and status for reporting to the federal government to secure funding. Stone has helped point out infrastructure gaps and tracked Vermont’s expansion of high-quality internet using the $245M of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding allocated by Vermont's Legislature in 2021. Additionally, Stone's support in implementing Vermont's Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program allowed the state to secure an additional $228.9M of federal funding for high-speed broadband expansion and $5.3M for the Digital Empowerment Program to improve accessibility and improve technology education. The VCBB continues to rely on Stone for data analysis to support the federal, state, and legislative reporting and performance monitoring required for large-scale programs. The team’s public data aggregation, current and planned broadband service program maps, and applications help the VCBB stay transparent and informative for all Vermonters.
Industries:
Telco