Rural towns push for broadband Internet

Ten years ago, fast Internet access was more luxury than necessity. Web sites were simpler, people purchased music on CDs instead of online, and YouTube didn’t exist. But times have changed. Internet access is quickly becoming a necessity of modern life. In the more remote areas of Vermont, this has created problems for people like professional data analyst Ed Nelbach. “I’m miles behind those with broadband access,” said Nelbach, a Hancock resident.

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Vermont to get $50 million for high-speed rail

President Barack Obama is expected to announce funding today for high-speed rail projects, including more than $50 million to upgrade track stretching from St. Albans to Massachusetts. The state will receive $500,000 to boost train service frequency between Rutland and Albany, N.Y., on the line that would have extended to Burlington. A second proposal to return passenger rail service to Burlington for the first time in 50 years was not a winner, however.

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Speaker offers plan to head off future infrastructure failures

As Vermont suffers the costly consequences of a high-profile bridge failure over Lake Champlain, House Speaker Shap Smith says he'll propose a new bonding plan aimed at preventing similar debacles in the future. "When you look at what happened to the Crown Point Bridge … it is clear we are at a critical time with regard to our transportation infrastructure, and particularly with our bridges," Smith said. "We're going to be spending more on bridges if we wait until they fall into the water to address these problems."

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Funding for Vt. roads faces continued pressures

Transportation officials say they'll largely avoid the budget-cutting exercises going on across the rest of state government as they ready a fiscal year 2011 spending plan on par with last year's record-setting budget.That doesn't mean, however, that lawmakers and administration officials won't be faced with potential funding dilemmas. The failure of the Lake Champlain bridge has resulted in new and unexpected funding obligations for the state, which is on the hook for at least $55 million over three fiscal years – including about $28 million in fiscal year 2011. Link to full article

Libraries Get Grant For Broadband

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is making grant money available to help provide broadband Internet access to Vermont libraries. The money is expected to be used as the state's match for federal funding the state will seek in early 2010 under the federal Broadband Technology Opportunities Program.

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Time to change the license plate? Vermont's e-state initiative

Governor James Douglas may not be able to achieve his announced ambition of making Vermont the nation's first e-state. But some telecom analysts think Vermont might nevertheless reach the goal of making high-speed Internet connections and reliable cell phone service available to all the state's residents by 2010. And, they say, the economic ramifications of such universal access could prove profound.

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Gravel roads making a comeback

Ever since the invention of the automobile, paved roads have meant progress. Now some cash-strapped towns and counties are finding progress too expensive, and they are tearing up battered roads and putting down gravel.

The high price of pavement and the sour economy have driven municipalities in states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Vermont to roll up the asphalt — a mile here, a few miles there, mostly on back roads — rather than repave.

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Fingers to the bone: As demand for local meat grows, processors feel the crunch

As more consumers take an interest in knowing where and how their meat is produced, small-scale local meat production is on the rise in Vermont, and at butcher shops like LaRock’s that means the schedule is tight.

But at each step of the way, consumers and producers alike are pointing out that the state’s infrastructure still has gaping holes that make local meat production challenging. Be it the shortage of butchers and slaughterhouses or the inflexibility of federal regulations, getting meat from farm to table is sometimes easier said than done.

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Vermont one of worst cost-effective state-owned highway systems

North Dakota continues to have the nation's most cost-effective state-owned highway system, according to Reason Foundation's 18th Annual Highway Report. The study finds over half of all state-owned highways across the country are congested and 25 percent of bridges are deficient or functionally obsolete. Vermont fell to number 42 in the ranking. Link to full article

State releases transportation funding

The Brattleboro Reformer reports that "town managers all over Windham County are breathing a little easier this week after the state released thousands of dollars in quarterly transportation funding that it had previously threatened to withhold." The money was frozen in December "in an attempt to plug a growing gap in the 2009 transportation budget." Vermot towns "receive the quarterly payments and count on the money to fund road projects throughout the year." Notably, "in the end, the Legislature did cut 15 percent of the quarterly payment." As a result, "Brattleboro received $46,552, instead of the $55,000 it was expecting."

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A record year for Burlington airport

The Burlington Free Press reports that "for the second consecutive year, a record number of people boarded planes at Burlington International Airport in 2008." Indeed, "boosted by Canadian travelers and new AirTran and JetBlue routes, 759,021 people — 7.3 percent more passengers than 2007 — climbed aboard planes at Vermont’s largest airport last year. That marks the highest percent increase since the 9 percent jump in 2005." Brian Searles, the airport’s director, commented, "In this economy we’re thrilled with any growth in business and 7.3 percent certainly exceeded our expectations."

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Rutlanders want Ethan Allen Express to stay

Vermont Public Radio reports that "at least 75 people crowded into the Rutland train station about an hour ago to show their support for the Ethan Allen Express passenger train." The crowd gathered in response to a budget-cutting proposition by the Douglas administration to eliminate train travel between Rutland and Albany, New York. The train "would be replaced by a bus that would serve Bennington, Rutland and Burlington." According to Rutland leaders, "Tthe city needs the Ethan Allen Express for its economic survival. And they say the train is successful - it carried 17% more passengers in the past year."

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Telecommunications officials consider pairing wind and cell towers

Vermont Public Radio reports that the Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) has "formed a partnership with Earth Turbines, a Williston company that builds and installs residential wind turbines" in an effort to put cell phone transmitters atop wind turbines. The VTA "has been given the goal of establishing universal cell phone coverage in the state by 2010. Officials say it's too expensive to build traditional cell towers in rural areas. So [the VTA is] working with Earth Turbines to add cell antennas onto much smaller residential wind turbines." It is estimated that "200 windmill towers would be needed to reach all of the areas of the state where there's not currently a cell phone signal."

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Apple's iPhone finally available to technology-starved Vermonters

Vermont Public Radio reports that Thursday, January 15th "marked the official launch of AT&T cell phone service in the state and the availability of the iPhone." According to AT&T officials, "Lines were long at all 10 Vermont outlets all day. So much so that running out was a concern. But a new shipment of the high tech phones is on its way." Notably, "AT&T acquired regional carrier Unicel late last month."

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Amtrak may face cuts

Vermont Public Radio reports that "as the state Transportation Agency cuts its budget, officials may be forced to reduce passenger rail service in Vermont." Currently, "the state provides a $5 million subsidy to operate two Amtrak lines in Vermont. The Ethan Allen Express runs from Rutland to New York City, and the Vermonter goes from St. Albans to Washington, D.C." According VTrans spokesman John Zicconi, "officials are reluctant to cut the service." Zicconi added, "Right now I'm not even saying Amtrak will be cut. It's being considered like everything else is being considered. We don't want to cut Amtrak. It's a service who's growing. People are trying to get out of their single occupancy vehicles. Amtrak is a popular service that everybody likes. But in tough times even those programs have to at least be looked at to understand how they fit into the greater picture our priorities."

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