We’ve received a grant to cover all or part of the cost of conduit and long fiber installations!
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!
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.
The contractors are independent of ECFiber and have other customers, so while we can ask for an ETA, they may not be able to provide us with one. ECFiber staff don’t have any visibility into the contractors’ schedules. Lead times can be quite long. We continue to bring more subcontractors on board to try to reduce lead times.
If you want to use your own contractor, that’s fine. You can invoice us for the grant’s share of the cost once the work is done. When the subsidy review is complete, we’ll email to tell you what percentage 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:
Or if:
And:
|
| 50% | If your property meets these criteria:
|
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. | |
Most other locations will qualify for full or partial subsidy, depending on qualifying factors.
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.
Installations will be concentrated geographically. Depending on where you’re located, your installation may be closer to June or closer to September.
For the purposes of the grant, household income below 400% of the poverty line qualifies. Here’s what that looks like:
| Household Size | 400% |
|---|---|
| 1 | 62,600 |
| 2 | 84,600 |
| 3 | 106,600 |
| 4 | 128,600 |
| 5 | 150,600 |
| 6 | 172,600 |
| 7 | 194,600 |
| 8 | 216,600 |
| 9 | 238,600 |
| 10 | 260,600 |
| 11 | 282,600 |
| 12 | 304,600 |
| 13 | 326,600 |
| 14 | 348,600 |
Yes. We will install and light the drop and we will set an inside installation date within the following 9 months.
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.
It ends on May 31, 2027. 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.
Please note that with the high cost of fuel, contractors are focusing their work geographically, to avoid hauling their equipment back & forth across 31 towns. So even if you sign up on an earlier date, your location may be installed on a later date.
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!
