Lamoille FiberNet Completes Another Major Milestone!
Lamoille FiberNet has completed building its network, providing fast, reliable internet services to every on-grid home and business in most of Lamoille County. In 2020, a group of volunteers, with assistance from the Lamoille County Planning Commission, formed the Lamoille FiberNet Communications Union District (CUD), which now includes most of Lamoille County. Over the next years, they worked through several iterations of feasibility studies, staffing, business plans, and broadband models, culminating in a partnership with Fidium Fiber to build and maintain a fiber network and provide high-speed internet to their communities.
After thousands of volunteer and staff hours and several rounds of grant funding supporting internet access for unserved and underserved addresses, the vision has been realized. “After two years of construction, high-speed fiber internet access is available to every eligible on-grid home and business in our district,” said Andy Ross, Lamoille FiberNet Chair. “Once final testing of the recently completed segments of the network are completed this fall, the remaining folks can order service and get access ro remote work, education, telehealth and other important services.”
“We specifically chose an all-fiber solution because it is unmatched for speed, reliability, and the capacity for upgrades,” Ross continued. “And our research showed that, for our area, partnering with Fidium Fiber was the most affordable and sustainable for our communities.”
The grant-funded portion of Fidium’s network was constructed in two phases during 2024-25, reaching a total of 356 miles. The total project cost approximately $23M and was funded by Vermont Community Broadband Board grants and significant investments by Consolidated Communications, which owns Fidium Fiber. The new network covers the towns of Belvidere, Cambridge, Eden, Elmore, Hyde Park, Johnson, Morristown, Stowe, Waterville, and parts of Wolcott.
Lamoille FiberNet’s Governing Board, which has representatives from each Lamoille County town, will continue to partner with Consolidated, providing oversight and ensuring that all administrative reporting, performance, and other requirements are met.
“The fact that many of the original volunteers are still actively involved is a testament to the passion that drove this success.” Ross said. “The communities in our District have been very fortunate to benefit from the tremendous amount of dedication and hard work that has gone into making this project a success.”
To learn more about Fidium Fiber and to sign-up for service, go https://www.fidiumfiber.com/ and click the availability button at the top of the page. To learn more about Lamoille FiberNet, go to: https://lamoillefiber.net.
LAMOILLE FIBERNET MISSION:
To prioritize access of unserved and underserved addresses to symmetrical, high-speed, and affordable internet service — as soon as possible.
