Frequently Asked Questions

Lamoille FiberNet is a Vermont Communications Union District (CUD). A CUD is an organization of two or more towns that join together as a municipality to build communications infrastructure together. More information on Vermont’s CUDs can be found on the Vermont Department of Public Service website. Lamoille FiberNet CUD includes the towns of Belvidere, Cambridge, Eden, Elmore, Hyde Park, Johnson, Morristown, Stowe, Waterville and Wolcott.

Lamoille FiberNet has a governing board made up of representatives from each member town. The board makes decisions by vote in meetings that are open to the public. Lamoille FiberNet representatives for each town are appointed by their town’s Selectboard, and each member town has equal representation on the governing board and thus an equal voice in the network design and the selection of ISP.

The current board roster, officers, and CUD staff members can be found here, and information about meeting times, agendas, and minutes can be found here.

It’s more efficient and profitable for Internet service providers (ISPs) to serve densely populated areas ‒ consequently, a rural state like Vermont has many underserved areas. Towns join CUDs to marshal their forces, pursue grants and other funding opportunities, and present more attractive business opportunities to ISPs and encourage service in rural areas.

Absolutely not! Vermont CUDs have no authority to levy taxes. As a municipal organization, each CUD must obtain funding only via grants, gifts, bonds or loans backed by revenues from the operation of the CUD or the CUD assets. See 30 V.S.A. § 3056 for more detail.

The two-phase buildout plan is in the process of being finalized in detail. Phase 1 represents 550 miles — connecting 4,170 addresses — and is scheduled to be completed in 2024. Phase 1 will connect all unserved and underserved addresses in Belvidere, Eden, Johnson, Hyde Park, Morristown, Waterville, the Lamoille FiberNet portions of Elmore and Wolcott, and significant portions of Stowe and Cambridge. Phase 2, which is the remaining portions of Stowe and Cambridge, is planned for 2025 and will require additional but substantially less grant funding. We will provide updates as we finalize our detailed build plan during the fourth quarter of 2023. Anyone can sign up for our newsletter on our website to receive updates on our progress.

The Lamoille FiberNet partnership with Fidium Fiber will provide several levels of speeds, up to 2 gigabit — with speeds that are symmetrical (the same for both download and upload speeds) to unserved and underserved addresses in our district. (The State’s definition of underserved is service that delivers less than 25Mbps download speed.) We will build our network with fiber-optic cables that have the capacity to deliver speeds in excess of 2Gbps.

Our buildout will happen in phases ‒ we will offer broadband in specific areas, gradually building into other areas. You can sign up for our newsletter, follow us on social media, or check out our website for the latest updates. Or you can pre-order by calling Fidium at (844) 434-3486. For other questions, you can also contact info@lamoillefiber.net for more information.

Affordability was one of the major considerations when we were choosing a partner. Fidum Fiber’s website lists its current pricing structure, which is significantly more affordable than other business models we explored and lower cost than similar products found in some Lamoille areas. Additionally, Consolidated has contractually agreed that the prices charged in our area will never exceed the prices they charge in other, potentially more competitive areas in Northern New England for the same service. Fidium participates in both Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity programs for low-income households.

The Vermont Department of Public Service website has information on Vermont’s CUDs, as well as a current map of all active districts. Additional details and frequently asked questions about CUDs can also be found on that site.