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Great News!

We’ve received a grant to cover all or part of the cost of conduit and long fiber installations! 

Frequently Asked Questions

When I Signed Up, I was Told I Need Conduit, Why is My House Not on the List?

Some accounts that were interested a while back were marked as “lost” customers in the system. If you sign up again on the web site, it’ll automatically reactivate your request. Be sure to click the “I need conduit” checkbox!

When Will it be Installed?

That’s a challenging question. The demand is high and the number of contractors available is limited. 

We’ll be installing on a first-come, first-served basis with the caveat that contractors will be concentrating in areas with multiple subscribers when possible, due to the high costs of fuel to move heavy equipment around.

How Much is Covered?

 There are several factors that can impact the amount of grant funding available for a project. Basically, the percentages work as follows:

 
Covered %Influencing Factors
100%

If your property meets all of these criteria:

  • Vermont homestead declaration (HS122 filed with your taxes)
  • Property value under $500k on 2025 Grand List (covering July 1 , 2024 – June 30, 2025)

Or if:

  • Income below 400% of poverty line,
  • Any household member qualifies for certain benefits (see Qualifying Benefits below)
  • The location is not your primary residence, but you have an HS122 at your primary residence.

And:

  • Estimated cost of conduit or new aerial line under $8,500
50%

 If your property meets these criteria:

  • Residential property – seasonal, 2nd home, or rental – not multi-unit commercial property
  • Property value over $500k on 2025 Grand List (covering July 1 , 2024 – June 30, 2025)
  • Estimated cost of conduit or new aerial line under $8,500
 
 

More complex situations involving corporate ownership, low-income housing, low-income renters, and commercial locations may qualify for a subsidy, please ask for a consultation when initiating your subscription.

  

Are There Ways To Qualify If I Don’t Fit the Criteria Exactly?

Yes. It’ll vary based on your specific situation. Here are a couple of potential examples:
  1. If your income or property value is greater than shown in the table above, but you meet all the other criteria, AND a household member qualifies for certain benefits, your location would qualify for 100% coverage.
  2. If your location requires a very long drop, and the estimated cost is over $8,500, then ECFiber will have to seek pre-authorization from the Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB). There are no guarantees, but we’ll give it the old college try!

Grant Priorities:

  • Lower income households, and households where at least one resident receives certain benefits
  • Vermont homesteads (filed form H122 on your taxes)
  • Valued at under $500k according to the 2025 Grand List – most will be covered 100%

Most other locations will qualify for full or partial subsidy, depending on qualifying factors.

 If I Qualify for a Grant, Why am I Being Asked to Contribute?

The grant is intended to help Vermonters who can’t afford to get one of these non-standard drops installed to do so. One of the grant requirements, is that we ask people to help us stretch the grant funds to cover as many of our community members as possible. If those who can help with part of the costs choose to do so, we can make the grant funding reach even more people. This is a voluntary contribution of an amount that you can afford.

What are the Construction Goals:

  • Help as many eligible customers as we can within the grant’s timeframe (June to the end of September).
  • Minimize fuel costs
  • Minimize heavy equipment hauling

Installations will be concentrated geographically. Depending on where you’re located, your installation may be closer to June or closer to September.

What are the Qualifying Benefits?

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Social Security, Women, Infants, and Children, and Lifeline

What Qualifies as Lower Income?

For the purposes of the grant, household income below 400% of the poverty line qualifies. Here’s what that looks like:

Household
Size		400%
162,600
284,600
3106,600
4128,600
5150,600
6172,600
7194,600
8216,600
9238,600
10260,600
11282,600
12304,600
13326,600
14348,600

I Have a Contract with My Current Provider. Can I get Conduit Now and Get Service When the Contract Expires?

Yes. We will install and light the drop and we will set an inside installation date within the following 9 months.

I’m not the Property Owner. Can I Qualify?

We’ll need a letter from your landlord to be allowed to dig on their property (for conduit) and attach to your building (both conduit and long drops). Without that, we won’t be able to install. Please have your landlord review this page and email us or call us to discuss the grant opportunity.

How Long is the Grant Available?

As of April 2026, it runs out on Sept, 30, 2026. The conduit must be installed, and/or the drop must be attached to the building at that time. However, depending on demand, the funding might run out before then. Funds will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Grant funding is limited and when it’s gone it’s gone. If you want a chance to get free or reduced price conduit, this is it!

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