PERU, VT— This week, Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) attended Southern Vermont Communications Union District’s (SoVT CUD) celebration of broadband buildout across 14 southern Vermont towns. By the end of this year the CUD will have provided broadband coverage via fiber to more than 99% of the residents and businesses in SoVT’s member communities, including Arlington, Bennington, Londonderry, and Peru. During his remarks, Sen. Welch highlighted the critical role of federal funding in broadband proliferation in rural areas. 

“Broadband isn’t a luxury for our rural communities—it’s a necessity. I’m proud to join Southern Vermont CUD to celebrate this milestone for broadband buildout in our state, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact of universal fiber coverage for students, businesses, and families across southern Vermont,” said Sen. Welch.  

In May, Senator Welch introduced the ReConnecting Rural America Act, a bipartisan bill that will support rural communities in building out broadband by reinforcing and bolstering the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect Loan and Grant Program. The bill also helps ensure eligibility within the ReConnect program for CUDs. The Senator serves as Chair of the Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy on the Senate Agriculture Committee, which oversees broadband buildout programs and rural development in the upcoming Farm Bill and across relevant federal government agencies. Learn more about the ReConnecting Rural America Act here. 

For more information on the Southern Vermont Communications Union District, please click here.

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