Slow internet access, or even no internet access, has been a challenge for many Vermont communities, but it won't be for much longer. A statewide effort to expand broadband access is underway and even moving ahead of schedule.

A new broadband Internet service will soon be offered in Eastport and parts of Perry and Sipayik as Fidium Fiber, a brand of Consolidated Communications, works to connect 1,900 homes to its fiber based Internet service. Line crews have been in the area over the past few weeks in preparation of the expansion, with infrastructure construction set to begin on Saturday, June 15, and poised to be completed within a few months after that.

The public-private partnership between the Lamoille FiberNet communications union district and Fidium Fiber, a subsidiary of Consolidated Communications, is on its way to providing high-speed internet to over 4,800 homes in Lamoille County.

Fidium Fiber is now available to more than 1,500 homes and businesses in Moultonborough. With the expansion of Fidium's all-fiber network complete, residents can now connect to symmetrical multi-gig internet speeds.

Fidium Fiber is now available to more than 7,600 homes and businesses in Berlin, Gorham, Randolph and Shelburne. With the expansion of Fidium's future-proof all-fiber network complete, residents can now connect to symmetrical multi-gig internet speeds and all the benefits that come with access to high-speed fiber connection.

The town of Fayette will join Wilton and numerous other rural towns in Franklin County and Maine in its push to bring rural communities up to speed with broadband coverage through the Maine Connectivity Authority's grant programs.