Interested in improving Waterbury’s internet service? Here’s how to get involved

July 9, 2021  |  By Lisa Scagliotti 

Illustration by Anna Brundage

Attention Waterbury residents with bad internet service – or at least those who are interested in getting better internet service for themselves and their neighbors. 

The town in April opted to join a newly formed Communications Union District called CVFiber. This is a new nonprofit municipal organization with 20 Central Vermont communities as its members. 

Its purpose is to figure out how to bring fast, dependable, and affordable internet to every home and business within its member towns, not just to the addresses where it's convenient. Every single home and business. 

The catch? Waterbury needs to designate a volunteer delegate to this group and an alternate. Without representation, Waterbury currently has no seat at the table and discussions that might affect and even benefit Waterbury are happening without someone there from the community to weigh in on what the issues are here and to help brainstorm solutions. 

So if you’re someone with an interest in internet service – and more importantly an interest in helping improve it locally – consider volunteering for one of these two opportunities to represent Waterbury. And yes, it’s a volunteer position, not a paid job. The delegate and alternate will be appointed by the Waterbury Select Board. The group’s board meets virtually at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. There are several committees that meet separately as well.

If you are interested, send an email outlining your interest and any related experience that you have that might be helpful to Town Clerk Carla Lawrence at clawrence@waterburyvt.com. 

If you need further information, call or email Waterbury’s Community Planner Steve Lotspeich at 244-1012 or slotspeich@waterburyvt.com.