The Vermont Community Foundation is supporting technical assistance for all Vermont Communication Union Districts during 2021 to augment their feasibility study and business planning efforts. ValleyNet and Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc (RISI) will be providing this technical assistance to all CUDs on an ongoing basis.
Each CUD has been allocated approximately 65 hours of technical assistance. ValleyNet and RISI will track these hours on behalf of the CUDs, and will provide updates on hours used upon request, as well as regularly make CUDs aware of how many hours they have used and how many they have remaining.
Please use the request form to submit a question or request help. Questions can cover any aspect of CUD planning, operations, or organization, such as “What questions should we ask potential ISP partners we meet with?” or “Can you create a memo about what happens during a ride-out with the utility?” or “Can you recommend some vendors for network design?”
Unless the question involves something confidential related to your CUD, questions and responses or response materials will be added to an FAQ (linked here and above) for knowledge sharing and efficiency.
Other example requests for help may include:
Review materials created for fundraising or outreach
Review or consult on RFPs and RFP responses
Review feasibility studies or business planning work
Review CUD budget and/or annual report
Assist with or review creation of work plans, communication materials, or other CUD documents
Provide trainings or Q&As to CUD representatives on specific topics related to the planning or stewardship of your network
Create a spreadsheet and/or map of data related to CUD towns
This is not an exhaustive list. If you have a request, please ask, and we will let you know if we can support you, or suggest alternate options if not.