Editor’s note: This commentary is by Tom Torti, who is the president of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce.
[Fo]r the first time ever, approximately 37,000 new locations in Vermont on are on the verge of having access to modern, high-speed broadband service. That’s good news for our state where the lack of access to high-speed broadband is an ongoing challenge for our citizens who want it to stay connected, and our businesses that need it to sustain and grow their businesses.
The even better news is that this expanded access into underserved areas is not going to cost the taxpayers of Vermont a single penny but will occur as a result of the proposed merger of AT&T and DIRECTV. According to the companies, they are committed to using new technology to bring expanded coverage to 37,000 individuals and businesses in Vermont along with an additional 13 million customer locations across the country. Currently, the two companies are waiting for final approval from regulators in Washington, D.C.
The areas that will see expanded service in Vermont include large chunks of the Islands, Addison County and Lamoille Country, along with other underserved areas, where a major challenge to running and growing a business is the lack of high-speed access to the Internet. By using fixed wireless local loop technology, the combined companies will be able to bring high-speed broadband service at speeds comparable to wireline service.
For small business owners and those working remotely in the Green Mountain State, access to high-speed Internet is critical if they are to remain competitive.
We all know that having the access to high-speed broadband is vital for economic growth. It is the rare business that can grow, and few if any new businesses are launched, without access to fast and reliable Internet service. For small business owners and those working remotely in the Green Mountain State, access to high-speed Internet is critical if they are to remain competitive. And as larger companies expand their employees’ ability to work from anywhere by being able to download materials, stream video and communicate instantly, workers without access are at a huge disadvantage. Not to mention that if want to lure entrepreneurs, including the many college students who study at our top institutions of higher education, to launch a venture in Vermont, continuing to expand access to modern telecommunication networks is a critical.
Working in a Vermont business can seem like the best of both worlds where both owners and employees enjoy a remarkable quality of life while being part of a thriving and competitive business community. Expanding access to high-speed broadband service is critical if we hope to preserve and grow our economy. The proposed merger between AT&T and DIRECTV is a rare opportunity for us to make real progress without having to commit public dollars and should be approved quickly.
