Small Business Ideas

A new apprenticeship program meant to help boost high-speed internet in Vermont is coming to Orleans County.Vermont Community Broadband Board has announced the kickoff of its new fiber optic apprenticeship program at the North Country Career Center. The idea is to get young Vermonters trained up to learn how to use fiber optics and get into the industry early.The end goal is to get high-speed internet to more rural communities across the state.NBC5 took a tour of the training center in Newport and caught up with the people who made it all happen. Christie Hallquist, the executive director of Vermont Community Broadband Board, told us the program will be a gamechanger for the future of internet access in Vermont communities.”People who are not connected in rural areas are people with poor connections. Three or four years is a long time for them. The more technicians we can get, the faster we can get this done,” said Hallquist.Lisa Tellstone of the Wireless Infrastructure Association is an Orleans County resident herself. She said this program will pay off in the long run for Vermonters.”I’m personally invested in seeing apprenticeship expand in Vermont. It’s critical to have the nation’s infrastructure,” said Tellstone.The state’s broadband board said it needs 200 more fiber optic engineers to meet their goals.If you are interested in the program, send them an email at vcbb.info@vermont.gov.