Limited Infrastructure Newshttp://www.understandingvt.org/limited-infrastructure-news/en-US2008-12-03T06:55:17ZSquarespace Site Server v5.0.0 (http://www.squarespace.com/)VTA sets goals for statewide Internethttp://www.understandingvt.org/limited-infrastructure-news/2008/11/26/vta-sets-goals-for-statewide-internet.htmlVCF Staff2008-11-26T19:56:16ZThe Brattleboro Reformer reports that Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) representatives speaking at a Windham Regional Commission meeting said they plan "to increase communications services in Windham County." Their plans "hinge mainly on attaching smaller radios to local sites from which cell phone and Internet signals could be broadcast." Currently about "50 percent of Vermont's geography has no cell phone sites." One year ago, however, the state Legislature passed Act 79, which requires the VTA to "come up with solutions for providing 100 percent coverage in all of Vermont." The VTA "aims to complete the project by 2010." VTA Board Chairwoman Mary Evslin explained, "Big companies cannot cover rural areas because it's just not economically viable for them to do so." In turn, "it is VTA's job to fill in the gaps, which they plan on doing by installing small, low-impact cell phone and Internet sites."

Link to article]]>Administration hopes for more federal transportation moneyhttp://www.understandingvt.org/limited-infrastructure-news/2008/11/19/administration-hopes-for-more-federal-transportation-money.htmlVCF Staff2008-11-19T17:48:16ZVermont Public Radio reports that "the Douglas Administration hopes the federal government will pay more for road and bridge repair" and "wants to increase motor vehicle fees in order to stem a growing deficit in the transportation fund." According to Transportation Secretary David Dill, "Congress is working on an economic stimulus bill that could funnel $60 million dollars to Vermont for highway bridge projects." Dill commented, "The key question is what are the ground rules going to be? From the very first day last January when we submitted that list of projects I said the upmost caveat is that this has to be 100 percent federally eligible. We do not have state or local funds to match. And they get it, and all the states are on board with that." Typically, "federal highway funds come with a very large string attached -a requirement that states come up with 10 or 20 percent of the project's cost." Dill hopes "Congress will waive the match requirement. He's also working with the state's congressional delegation on changes that will allow states to use streamlined procedures as they put projects out to bid."