The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Vermont bill requires internet providers to offer low-cost broadband plans starting October 1, 2025
Last action · January 29, 2025: Read first time and referred to the Committee on Energy and Digital InfrastructureSponsor: Christopher Morrow
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What This Bill Would Do
Beginning October 1, 2025, internet service providers in Vermont must offer affordable broadband service options to eligible low-income households, capped at monthly prices of $15.00 or $20.00 depending on download speeds. Providers must submit annual compliance reports starting November 15, 2025, and face civil penalties of up to $1,000.00 per willful violation.
Low-income residents qualifying for federal Lifeline or fuel assistance programs gain access to heavily discounted internet tiers, while internet providers face new compliance reporting duties, speed mandates, and potential consumer-protection penalties.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
internet service providers
Must offer discounted broadband tiers, submit annual compliance reports, promote affordable options, and face potential penalties for noncompliance.
low-income consumers
Gain eligibility to purchase capped-price, high-speed broadband services meeting statutory speed thresholds.
Public Utility Commission
Required to adopt administrative rules concerning inflation adjustments, speed waivers, provider exemptions, and contract terms.
Department of Public Service
Must collect annual compliance reports from providers, inform the public about broadband products, and conduct reviews every five years.
Key Facts
- Internet service providers must offer affordable broadband service to eligible low-income consumers on or before October 1, 2025.
- Affordable plans include a 25 Mbps download speed option priced at not more than $15.00 per month, and a 200 Mbps option priced at not more than $20.00 per month, inclusive of taxes and recurring fees.
- Low-income consumers include households qualifying for the federal Lifeline program or the Home Heating Fuel Assistance Program.
- The Public Utility Commission is required to adopt rules allowing price adjustments for inflation (capped at 2% per year), speed waivers, and provider exemptions for businesses with 20,000 or fewer customers facing unreasonable financial impacts.
Show all 8 facts
- Internet providers must submit an annual compliance report to the Department of Public Service beginning November 15, 2025.
- The Commissioner of Public Service must review download speeds and eligibility requirements at least every five years starting October 1, 2027, and report annually to the General Assembly beginning December 15, 2026.
- Violating the provisions of this section constitutes an unfair and deceptive act in commerce under 9 V.S.A. § 2453.
- Willful and knowing violations carry a civil penalty of up to $1,000.00 per violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for the affordable broadband service?
What are the price and speed limits for the affordable broadband service?
Are small internet providers exempt from these requirements?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Jan 29, 2025HouseIntroducedRead first time and referred to the Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Establishment of Mandated Low-Income Broadband Tiers
The bill introduces strict price and speed floors for low-income consumers, tying compliance directly to state consumer protection statutes.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.vermont.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy45Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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