Vermont § 202c - State telecommunications; policy and planning

§ 202c. State telecommunications; policy and planning

• (a) The General Assembly finds that advances in telecommunications technology and changes
  in federal regulatory policy are rapidly reshaping telecommunications services, thereby
  promising the people and businesses of the State communication and access to information,
  while creating new challenges for maintaining a robust, modern telecommunications
  network in Vermont. (b) Therefore, to direct the benefits of improved telecommunications technology to all
  Vermonters, it is the purpose of this section and section 202d of this title to: (1) strengthen the State’s role in telecommunications planning; (2) support the universal availability of appropriate infrastructure and affordable services
  for transmitting voice and high-speed data; (3) support the availability of modern mobile wireless telecommunications services along
  the State’s travel corridors and in the State’s communities; (4) provide for high-quality, reliable telecommunications services for Vermont businesses
  and residents; (5) provide the benefits of future advances in telecommunications technologies to Vermont
  residents and businesses; (6) support competitive choice for consumers among telecommunications service providers
  and promote open access among competitive service providers on nondiscriminatory terms
  to networks over which broadband and telecommunications services are delivered; (7) support the application of telecommunications technology to maintain and improve governmental
  and public services, public safety, and the economic development of the State; (8) support deployment of broadband infrastructure that: (A) uses the best commercially available technology; (B) does not negatively affect the ability of Vermont to take advantage of future improvements
  in broadband technology or result in widespread installation of technology that becomes
  outmoded within a short period after installation; (9) in the deployment of broadband infrastructure, encourage the use of existing facilities,
  such as existing utility poles and corridors and other structures, in preference to
  the construction of new facilities or the replacement of existing structures with
  taller structures; and (10) support measures designed to ensure that by the end of the year 2024 every E-911 business
  and residential location in Vermont has infrastructure capable of delivering internet
  access with service that has a minimum download speed of 100 Mbps and is symmetrical. (Added 1987, No. 87, § 1; amended 2003, No. 164 (Adj. Sess.), § 15, eff. June 12, 2004; 2009, No. 54, § 49, eff. June 1, 2009; 2011, No. 53, § 24b, eff. May 27, 2011; 2013, No. 190 (Adj. Sess.), § 8, eff. June 16, 2014.)