Lamoille FiberNet Announces Expanded Long Drop Funding
(Note: please see updated information in: Lamoille FiberNet Expands Funding and Sets March 31 Deadline for Long Drop Program – Lamoille FiberNet.)
For most of us, having Fidium bring fiber to the premises (the “drop”) is free. However, some sites need extra work before fiber can be installed — this post is about new funding that is available for eligible addresses and what you can do next.
Lamoille FiberNet is expanding its Long Drop Program to help Lamoille residents and businesses afford long (non-standard) drops. Not only do we have more funds available, but also, we will be expanding support to all 10 towns – including Elmore, Morristown, and Stowe.
IMPORTANT: This program is administered by Lamoille FiberNet, NOT Fidium Fiber. Please do not call Fidium about how to sign up for funding assistance. They will not be able to help. We have set up a dedicated email drops@lamoillefiber.net — to take your questions and verify whether your address is eligible. We will publish more details and an application in January. Please read this post carefully so you consider your options.
1. The newly expanded long drop program
Due to savings in construction costs, Lamoille FiberNet is able to expand its Long Drop Program to make non-standard drop assistance more widely available in all 10 Lamoille County towns.
These State grant funds can be used only for addresses included in our approved grant plan. Most addresses can connect to fiber now, however a few areas in Morristown, Hyde Park, Wolcott, Elmore, and Stowe will not be ready until summer 2025.
This program will be administered by Lamoille FiberNet; customers will not have to hire their own contractor or seek reimbursement from Lamoille FiberNet. We expect the maximum amount available to each individual address will be well above the average cost typically needed for this work. We are also exploring how to support a limited number of exceptions, using funds donated by seven of the towns. We expect to publish updated criteria and timelines in January and open applications for the new program early in 2025, to be ready for the Spring construction season.
In the meantime:
- If your drop is less than 500’ or you have usable conduit, we recommend you contact Fidium to schedule an installation. Based on our experience this fall, fewer than 1% of addresses are non-standard. A non-standard drop requires more than 500’ of new poles or new conduit to carry the fiber from the distribution network to the home or business. The drop does NOT include the installation of the fiber to the premises or activation of services.
- If you schedule an installation and discover that your address is a long drop or needs conduit, your Fidium order will be cancelled. You will be able to reschedule with Fidium when you notify them that the “drop” path has been constructed. If you have a long drop and you want to explore funding assistance, contact drops@lamoillefiber.net, NOT Fidium.
- Please Don’t Call Fidium about this Program — Our drop program is unique to and administered by Lamoille FiberNet, and Fidium call center personnel do not have information about this long drop program. They will not be able to help.
Again, to determine if your address is a grant-funded address built in 2024 or scheduled for 2025, please email drops@lamoillefiber.net and don’t forget to provide your service address and contact information. And please be patient — we are primarily a volunteer-driven organization.
2. Earlier Long Drop Program
The application period for our initial program closed November 1, 2024, and we are pleased to report that we anticipate funding almost all if the eligible applicants— we have notified all those applicants of their eligibility status and next steps. Our initial program was limited to grant-funded addresses in Belvidere, Cambridge, Eden, Hyde Park, Johnson, Waterville and Wolcott because those seven towns donated funds.
If you applied for assistance under the prior program and have not received an email from us, please send an email to info@lamoillefiber.net.
3. Do It Yourself
You can always pay to have the conduit installed yourself, but unfortunately, our State grant funds are not currently eligible to reimburse individuals. We will continue to explore solutions to maximize opportunities and access to broadband.
LAMOILLE FIBERNET MISSION:
To prioritize access of unserved and underserved addresses to symmetrical, high-speed, and affordable internet service — as soon as possible.
