The Vermont House voted 145-1 Tuesday to give initial approval to H.360 – the community broadband acceleration bill. The bill uses federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to make the most significant investment ($150 million) in state history toward delivering high-speed internet to every Vermonter. If enacted, this…
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The House Energy and Technology Committee advanced legislation (H.360) Wednesday aimed at accelerating the development of community broadband in Vermont. If enacted, this VPIRG-supported legislation will make significant resources available to the state’s Communications Union Districts (CUDs) – public, municipal entities formed to provide universal, affordable, world-class broadband to their…
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If you own a piece of equipment, you should be able to fix it. This seems like a fairly obvious and uncontroversial idea, right? And yet, more and more, consumers are unable to make basic repairs to products they own because manufacturers refuse to provide the parts, tools, and documentation…
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This isn’t breaking news, but it can’t be repeated enough – the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic devastation it has wrought has caused many Vermonters to face incredible hardships. In Vermont, our elected leaders have enacted a number of policies to mitigate the financial impact of this crisis – and…
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Act 89 – a wide-ranging data privacy and consumer protection law goes into effect today. This VPIRG-supported law contains a number of key provisions that safeguard Vermont students’ privacy, better informs all Vermonters when their data has been compromised and keeps Vermonters out of unwanted ‘zombie contacts.’ VPIRG members and…
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S.110 – a wide-ranging data privacy and consumer protection law is on Governor Phil Scott’s desk. This VPIRG-supported bill contains a number of key provisions aimed at better protecting Vermonters’ personal information, informing them when their data has been compromised and keeping them out of unwanted ‘zombie contacts.’ S.110 was…
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An overwhelming majority of Vermonters are worried about global warming and support a wide range of actions to cut Vermont’s climate pollution. That’s according to poll commissioned by VPIRG and Vermont Conservation Voters – released on Wednesday. The alarming news (or at least the news about people being alarmed): 76%…
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Today, Governor Scott signed into law the most significant set of policies in years to expand and improve broadband internet access throughout the state. H.513 – the VPIRG-backed broadband expansion bill – increases the funding needed to boost state government support for local internet startups and establishes a state revolving…
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Vermont legislators have raised the bar when it comes to regulating the scourge of single-use plastics. S.113 – the single-use plastics bill – with overwhelming legislative support was sent to Gov. Phil Scott Wednesday. It takes aim at plastic bags, straws, drink stirrers and expanded polystyrene. “Single-use plastics like bags,…
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Today the Vermont House took one of the most significant steps in years to expand and improve broadband internet access throughout the state. The House passed H.513 – a VPIRG-backed broadband expansion bill – on an overwhleming 139-2 vote. In doing so, legislators have recognized that the largest telecom companies…
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