Page 52 - 2020 Annual Report

NEK Community Broadband Why is NEK Community Broadband vital?

These days, reliable, fast internet is a necessary utility for business, work, school, and healthcare.
Northeast Kingdom Communication Union District is commonly referred to as NEK Community Commercial internet providers have not stepped up to serve the most rural areas of the state and country,
Broadband. It was formed in March of 2020, and now includes 32 towns. Ours is one of them.
just as happened when the infrastructure for electric service was being created in the 20th century. In
some ways similar to the electric co-ops that were created back then to fill the need, Communication
Every town has one primary representative on the Governing Board who was appointed by its select
board. The representative for Brighton is Michael Strait. The alternate is Jonah Petre. Union Districts around Vermont are working successfully to fill the internet needs of 21st century
Vermonters and beyond.
The organization’s purpose is to ensure that every e911 address in the Kingdom can access robust
reliable internet service speeds.This is a long-term process which will take years to fully realize. Vital Statistics - Births – 2020

Funding will come through state and federal grants, subsidized loans, and the fees from internet Name Date Mother’s Name Father’s Name
subscribers for services provided. Financial resources will not include taxes from member towns.
In fact, NEK Community Broadband is legally prohibited from using tax dollars directly, and this Katelyn Marie Porter 1/9/20 Samantha Joan Prive Steven Richard Porter
prohibition includes debts. Jaykobi James Knights 1/22/20 Brianna Marie Knights Kevin James Bickford

First Year Successes Brooke Jeanne Lyons 1/22/20 Melissa Jeanne Lyons Cass Geoffrey Lyons
Dylan Joseph Germaine
Hazely Jean Germaine
1/29/20
Hady Ann Crowe
In our first year, NEK Broadband has formed a governing board; hired a clerk and administrator; Hudson Daniel Martin 2/11/20 Abigail Landon Marie Sheltra Justan Daniel Martin
raised $743,000 in grant funding; acquired nearly 100 miles of existing fiber assets that we can Ophelia Rose Goulet 2/19/20 Brittany Aster Frizzell Goulet Justin Brian Goulet
leverage to help us acquire loans; and completed an initial feasibility study showing a way to Jace Lawrence O’Keefe 4/3/20 Crystal Marie O’Keefe
becoming cash-flow positive in three years. Jonathan Michael O’Keefe
Isaiah William Paul Glodgett 4/9/20 Jasmine Marie Glodgett Ezra Dean Glodgett
Jonah Carless Breer II 4/20/20 Michelle Renee Breer Jonah Carless Breer
Working quickly to take advantage of COVID Relief Funds, we were able to partner with Kingdom Clyde David Lee Bowen 5/28/20 Ashley Nicole Robishaw-Morin Cameron Lee Bowen
Fiber to provide fiber service infrastructure to 100 previously unserved residences. As of January, Ethan George Rancourt 8/2/20 Joshlynne Marie Rancourt Clint Luc Rancourt
42 of these homes in Albany, Craftsbury, Greensboro, Hardwick, and Irasburg have been connected. Averie Elizabeth Deslandes 8/16/20 Ashley Elizabeth Deslandes -----------
NEK Community Broadband was also able to share information about a Line Extension program
established through the CARES act, engage in legislative advocacy on behalf of our communities, Levi Burton Strong 10/27/20 Michelle Lee Strong Matthew Lee Strong
and build relationships with electric utilities which will help with future projects.
Recent Updates and Future Plans Vital Statistics - Marriages – 2020
Recent federal funding to two telecommunications companies, Consolidated Communications and
National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative, will improve internet service in many areas of the Groom Residence Bride Residence Date
Northeast Kingdom. As NEK Community Broadband develops its five-year plan, it will work on Charles C. Sanville VT Torrie L. Maxwell VT 3/2/20
filling in the gaps of areas that will not be served by those two companies. Dennis James Gonyaw, Jr VT Christina Maye Maxwell VT 7/8/20
Douglas James Goodhile MA Amanda Jean Jonaitis MA 9/5/20
NEK Community Broadband will focus on fiber optic infrastructure because it provides the fastest, Peter James Morrill VT Vickie Lorann Young VT 8/1/20
most reliable internet service for the long term. In 2021, we will begin with a $4-5 million dollar Nathan Louis Nadeau VT Cynthia J. Farrington VT 10/17/20
build out of our fiber optic network. Roy Allan Stewe FL Allan Ramsden Smith FL 10/24/20
Kyle Scott Morrison NY Erin Renee Brunelle VT 10/31/20
Of course, what we all want to know is: when will there be fast internet at my home? The five-year Jason Michael Kertenis MA Sarah Catherine Tenero MA 12/23/20
plan we create in 2021 will give us a much clearer picture of when specific addresses might be
served. In alignment with our mission, we are committed to finding a just balance between fiscal
responsibility and prioritizing service to the most rural areas that are underserved - or unserved - by Vital Statistics- Deaths – 2020
the national, for-profit internet companies in our area.

Getting additional federal and state support for rural infrastructure will help more homes get served Name Date Age Place of Death
faster; so talk to your elected representatives about how important this is for your household or Robert Guy Wing, Sr 3/19/20 78 St-Johnsbury, VT
business. James E. Hinton 4/3/20 94 Brighton, VT
Bonita D. Halpern 6/4/20 69 Island Pond, VT
Where to Learn More Ghislain Martin Fauteux 6/12/20 57 Island Pond, VT
You can learn more about our work and find updates regarding future plans on our website, Robert Burton Maxwell 8/8/20 84 Island Pond, VT
nekbroadband.org and on Facebook as NEKCommunityBroadband. Our annual report is available Pauline Guay 8/28/20 97 Island Pond, VT
through the Town Clerk’s office. Madeleine Molinari 10/5//20 66 Island Pond, VT
In the future, updates on progress will be shared through local newspapers and other non-electronic
methods, as well.

52 Town of Brighton, VT 2020 Annual Report 53