930 words / VTDigger.org Despite conceding that Vermont will miss his target of statewide broadband and cellular coverage before year’s end, Gov. Shumlin Wednesday gathered top telecommunications executives to celebrate how far they’ve come.
VTel president Michel Guité addresses a roundtable of telecommunications executives and press assembled by Gov. Peter Shumlin in Montpelier Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Hilary Niles/VTDigger
About 3,000 homes still lack high-speed Internet service — representing less than 1 percent of residences in the state. Of those homes without service, solutions have been identified for the vast majority, though connection dates remain elusive. Five or fewer locations still remain without any solutions figured out. Administration Secretary Jeb Spaulding said the effort has been largely successful. “I think (the governor) is excited and thankful and gratified for the progress we have made, and I think for all intents and purposes, we have hit his target.”