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Telecommunications Firm Launches Rural Networks

Broadband
Sean MacEntee/Flickr

The telecommunications company VTel is rolling out a statewide high-speed communications network that will serve sections of rural Vermont.

Vtel announced Tuesday that they are launching a wireless network that will reach more than 20,000 homes and businesses.

And the company's "fiber-to-the-home project" will bring high-speed Internet service to more than 17,000 homes and businesses in rural Vermont.

U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy says the expansion will be good for business and job creation in the state.  “Rural areas should be the same as urban areas. They should have broadband. And if we’re going to create businesses in rural areas, we’re going to have to have very, very high speed broadband.”

Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin praised the efforts and pledged to continue efforts to expand Internet coverage.

Vermont has been working for years to expand broadband Internet services.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2014. All rights reserved. 

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