September 2021

		Do You Need Assistance Paying Your Internet Bill? There are currently multiple programs available for households who may need assistance. Each program has its own criteria and some households may qualify for one or both programs, significantly reducing the cost of your monthly bill. 1. Vermont Temporary Broadband Subsidy Program The Temporary Broadband Subsidy is now open to Vermonters who qualify and may require assistance paying their monthly internet bill. This temporary relief program is managed by the State of Vermont and is open to award monthly "grants" or credits to your Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom bill to cover up to $40.00 per month on the Internet portion of your monthly bill. There is no guarantee that this program will continue after the December expiration date and the offer is only available while funds are available to cover these expenses For more information, program eligibility and to access the online application, visit the Vermont Temporary Broadband Subsidy Program website. 2. Emergency Broadband Benefit What is it? The Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program is a new FCC program to help households struggling to pay for internet service during the pandemic. This temporary benefit will help families with challenges such as working from home, distance learning, telehealth services, or simply connecting digitally with loved ones. The EBB will provide a discount of up to $50.00 per month towards broadband service for eligible households. The benefit is limited to one monthly service discount per household. Who is eligible: A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below: Qualifies for the Lifeline program; Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, or did so in the 2019-2020 school year; Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; Experienced a substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020 and the household had a total income in 2020 below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; or Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating providers' existing low-income or COVID-19 program. How to apply? For more information and to apply, visit www.wcvt.com/ebb or call 800.496.3391. Come Join Our Team – 2 Positions Available: Customer Service Associate and Internet Support Association When you become part of the Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom family, you're joining a one hundred year old organization that values its employees and recognizes the important contribution each one makes to our company's success. Our progressive benefits and compensation package reflects the appreciation we have for our employees and rewards them for their commitment and dedication to our company. Managing a family-friendly atmosphere in a fast-paced industry can present challenges, but we keep a careful eye on workplace satisfaction and quality, as we do on product and customer service quality. We are looking for people who share our passion for excellence and are willing to grow with us in the future. We are an EOE (Equal Opportunity Employer). Current Job Openings: Customer Service Associate Internet Support Associate For more information, click here. Maple Broadband and Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom Sign Agreement to Manage and Deliver Services to Maple Broadband's Fiber Network On August 26, two organizations that exist to serve Addison County residents joined forces, with the shared goal of delivering fiber optic broadband internet access to every address in Maple Broadband's member towns. Funds needed to pay for the fiber network will come from grants and loans. Because of Maple Broadband's structure as a tax-free municipal entity, it will ultimately be able to secure funding from the municipal bond market at attractive interest rates. "This was a critical foundational move for Maple Broadband." said Steve Huffaker, Maple Broadband's Chair. "A first step in deploying our fiber network was to identify a qualified organization to manage and deliver services over the network." "When seeking an agreement with a potential term of 30 years, proper alignment of goals was critical to identifying the right partner. We found a perfect match in Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom (WCVT); a local Vermont telecommunications operator that has extensive experience in building and operating a rural broadband network." "Even before this Network Management Agreement was signed, WCVT has been an invaluable resource in support of Maple Broadband's efforts. Through our collaboration, we will be able to leverage the deep well of experience and the many operational assets that WCVT already has in place," said Huffaker. This project will extend a fiber-to-the-home network capable of delivering high-speed broadband service to unserved and underserved addresses that are among some of the hardest to reach and hardest to serve in the state of Vermont. According to Eric Haskin, President and CEO of Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom, "We are very pleased to be working with Maple Broadband to continue to expand fiber-optic connectivity to Addison County communities. This partnership will go a long way toward making next generation, high-speed Internet services available to many communities that don't have access to adequate service today." As a precursor to network construction, Maple Broadband is engaged in pre-construction. It is presently conducting a high-level network design, pole surveys, and detailed network design while working through the state and federal grant processes. For more information about the timeline and progress, visit www.maplebroadband.net. Win a $50 Gift Certificate to The Big Picture Theater and Cafe in Waitsfield This month we have another great prize for you – a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to The Big Picture Theater and Cafe in Waitsfield, a local gathering place with a global dimension. The Big Picture offers quality films and home cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner. And don't forget to take home a dozen (or 2) of their famous maple glazed donuts. To be entered into the raffle, simply click the link below and leave your name and contact information. The drawing will take place on Monday, September 13th. Click Here To Enter For Your Chance To Win Looking For A Better TV Experience? Try GMA Video Free For 30-Days! GMA Video is a fully-featured, streaming TV service that is a complete replacement for traditional cable or satellite television. With GMA Video, you still get all of your local channels and the option to choose packages with all of your favorite national sports and movie channels. Every GMA Video package also includes access to Cloud DVR so you can easily record your favorite programs. Once you subscribe, you simply download and install the GMA Video app on your favorite streaming device (we support Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and your favorite internet browser or mobile device). You'll also enjoy: FREE HD Channels, Cloud DVR, Restart TV, and Replay TV Your favorite local broadcast channels and cable networks Personalized viewing recommendations Easy self-installation and no contracts Packages starting as low as $37.25 Try GMA Video FREE for 30-Days! Call 802-496-3391 today to switch. Come See Us At The Bristol Harvest Festival Come see us at the Bristol Harvest Festival which will take place on the Bristol Town Green on Saturday, September 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This is an event that we attend annually and it's a great opportunity to meet our customers face-to-face and help answer any questions. A free day of family fun with music, children's activities, food, crafters, vendors and more! For more information, visit www.bristolharvestfest.com. We hope to see you there!

		WCVT Helps Local Schools For the past 15 years, WCVT has been donating backpacks filled with supplies to schools in their local serving area. This year due to the pandemic, monetary donations from WCVT's employees as well as the company's Contribution Committee made it possible to send significant funds to approximately two dozen schools. This way, schools could purchase items for their students that are most beneficial to help them have a successful school year. "Wow! Thank you so much for the generous check for our students who need backpacks and school supplies. Your generosity is so appreciated. Several students will benefit from your donation!" - Brenda Hartshorn, Moretown School Tammy Field, Administrative Supervisor and coordinator of the Backpacks for Kids Program, stated that she continues to be overwhelmed by the generosity of WCVT and its employees and is very proud to work with such a great group of people. WCVT would like to wish each and every student a very successful, safe and fun school year.

		Vista Beast Challenge Disc Golf Tournament – September 18 & 19 - Bolton Valley Resort Now in its 5th year, the annual Vista Beast is a challenging 18-hole Disc Golf course that attracts hundreds of disc golfers from Vermont & Beyond. Sign up to play and prove yourself worthy of the VISTA BEAST. For more information and to register, visit: boltonvalley.com. Bristol Harvest Festival - Saturday, September 25 – Bristol The Bristol Harvest Festival is co-hosted by the Addison County Chamber and the Bristol Recreation Department. The event takes place on the Bristol Town Green on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and features a full day of live music on the bandstand, food, crafters, and vendors. For more information, visit addisoncounty.com/bristol-harvest-festival. Mad Dash - Sunday, October 10th - Waitsfield This year is the 25th annual Mad Dash! The annual event features a 5k run, a 10K run, and a 5K walk. Every participant is welcomed by our many volunteers and receives an event shirt, a healthy lunch, refreshments and great entertainment. The run/walk course takes you through beautiful countryside on local roads with scenic views, farms, a covered bridge and colorful meadows. For more information, visit madriverpath.org/maddash.

		Toddler Joins Pro Soccer Game When a 2-year-old boy ran onto the field during a game, his mom had to think fast (and run even faster) to catch him.		From Wires to "Wow!" It's mesmerizing to watch artist Andy Elliott transform 600 strands of stainless steel wire into beautiful branches.

		Guide to Apple Varieties Learn about popular kinds of apples and the best uses for each — from eating out of hand to making pies or salads. Learn more...		DIY and What to Buy Popular Mechanics is a go-to source for how to do all kinds of projects and which products to buy for best results. Learn more...		Rolling with Dough Roller This isn't about pie crust. It's about learning how to better manage and invest your dough, as in money, to build wealth. Learn more...

		Ina Garten's Chicken Recipes September is National Chicken Month. If you're bored with your chicken dishes, try these Barefoot Contessa favorites.		4 Variations of Basic Muffins Turn this recipe into your choice of muffins — chocolate chip, banana pecan, orange poppy seed, or mango coconut.

		Biggest Animal on Earth Blue whales can reach a length of 100 feet and weigh up to 200 tons. Watch one now in the Santa Barbara Channel. You may need an Instagram account to view these posts. Go to Instagram.com to sign up or sign in to your account.		Cool Flames in Space On the International Space Station, researchers are studying cool flames, which burn at extremely low temps.

		10 Easy DIY Projects Transform an old tire into a storage seat, wine corks into a pen holder, a picture frame into a key rack, and more.		How to Refinish Furniture Learn how to turn a flea market find into a piece of furniture you love without the hassles of stripping the finish.

Green Mountain Access Mechanicsville Rd Hinesburg, VT 05461 888-321-0815 (toll-free) 802-496-8598 (local) Click here to unsubscribe.

© 2021 Cornerstone Publishing Group Inc. Trademarks: All brand names and product names used in this eNewsletter are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.