NORTHEAST KINGDOM – “In our service territory we have three of the four poorest [Vermont] counties and we see daily the impact of the digital divide,” said Tonya Ozone, director of sales and marketing at NEKCV, the organization resulting from a merger of Northeast Kingdom Broadband and CVFiber.
She added, “Bringing dollars to our area to help solve digital equity is something we have been advocating for and couldn’t be more excited that the state has received funds to expand internet access. While we are doing our part to bring access to the unserved and underserved, we are optimistic these funds will further all areas of digital equity, from affordable access to devices as well as online security and skill development.”
Vermont’s Digital Equity Plan released in March by the Vermont Community Broadband Board identified an intentional focus on equity as essential. The report notes “most Vermonters (95 percent) can identify with one or more of the demographics prioritized under the Infrastructure and Jobs Act (IIJA) for targeted digital equity initiatives. These groups . . . have faced significant barriers to meaningfully using the Internet due to their location, income, ability or other reasons. Without broadband access and adoption, the inequities these populations face are exacerbated.”
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.