Significant progress has been made here in Vermont on the work of implementing the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and Vermont's Public Service Board has completed or has under way several important proceedings on telecommunications competition, quality of service and consumer protection issues. Furthermore, developments in technology, computers and the Internet have accelerated. This Plan was written to help Vermonters understand how their telephone, television and Internet services are changing, and what needs to be done to promote opportunity and prevent inequities. The Department will hold public hearings on the Final Draft of the State Telecommunications Plan, to gather the public's response to the Plan and its recommendations. The dates and locations of these hearings will be announced soon but are not available at this time.
Comments are welcome through the date of the last public hearing.
The Department will adopt the Plan after considering all public comments. The last Plan was published in December 1996, and this new Plan is expected to be issued by December of this year.