Welcome to "The Dish", the blog of Cavendish Connects, a community web site for the town of Cavendish, Vermont.
The Dish features a round-up of local happenings and events in Cavendish, Vermont.
Have something noteworthy to share? Contact us at cavendishconnects@gmail.com; we would love to hear from you.
At about 2:00 pm this afternoon [Wed, Nov. 26] on Twenty Mile Stream Road we had two men and one woman in a newer Black Ford truck with a dump body on it attempt to take our firewood. The black Ford dump truck had wood upper rails on the dump body and the dump body had a sander in it. We have notice firewood missing over the weekend. If anyone knows who these persons are please call Doug at 802-226-7142.
Help Cavendish Connects stay on-line by:
• Making a donation at the Abundance Swap on December 6
• Mailing a check to Cavendish Connects, PO Box 3, Cavendish VT 05142
• Making a donation on line
• Organizing a fundraiser
THE 11/21 /14 EDITION OF THE CAVENDISH UPDATE
1. Cavendish Related News
2. Cavendish Questions and Answers
3. Holiday Fair
4. Stuff a Bus
5. Events
1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS
Complete the Cavendish Telecommunications Survey: Since the spring, considerable concern has been raised in Cavendish about the quality and lack of Internet service. To assess the current telecommunications (Internet, land line, cell and TV) situation, Cavendish Connects is conducting an on-line survey until November 30. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey. Results will be compiled and presented to the Cavendish Select board at their December 8 meeting and will be also posted to The Dish, the blog of Cavendish Connects. To understand more about why Cavendish is experiencing such telecommunications problems go to The Dish.
2. CAVENDISH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: These are questions we’ve received recently:
Question: Is anyone in-the-know about local yoga classes? I recall someone was offering them on Mondays a while back but at that point it didn't fit with my work schedule.
Answer: Yoga and other classes are available in a variety of locations in and around Cavendish. Use the Cavendish Connects webpage Sports and Outdoor Recreation section to check out the class schedules at the Castle Hill Resort and Spa; Ludlow Community Center; Spring House at Jackson Gore and the Edgar May Health and Recreation Center. In Chester there are a variety of yoga opportunities including Yum Yoga (802-518-4421); Sama Yoga; Katheryn 875-5585; and Buddhaful Yoga 875-2868
Question: Where can I find? Who sells?
Answer: To the many inquiries we receive about where something is sold, or who can do a particular service, we recommend checking locally first as follows:
• Cavendish Business Directory
• The “For Residents” section of Cavendish Connects website, which includes not only the directory but information on emergencies and preparedness, education, town services and much more
• The Pinterest site for Cavendish that includes 16 boards on a wide variety of topics including Community Organizations; events; what to do and where to go.
Question: Why is Cavendish having so many problems with telecommunications?
Answer: There are a combination of factors-landline carriers lost their subsidies and were not funded for broadband, the Internet is not regulated by the FCC- that have created a situation in Cavendish, similar to what’s happening in other towns and across the United States. For a more in-depth understanding, read Cavendish Telecommunications: Why there is such a problem.
3. HOLIDAY FAIR: The Proctorsville Fire Department, Gethsemane Church, St. James Church and the Sixth Grade at CTES, will be holding a Holiday Fair on December 6, from 9 to 3 at the Proctorsville Fire Hall. There will be raffles, crafts, food, and fun for all! A light lunch will also be available! FMI 802-376-3632 or sdevereu@vtc.edu
4. HOLIDAY STUFF-A-BUS TO BENEFIT LOCAL FOOD SHELF : The holiday season is upon us and Black River Good Neighbor Services has announced that it will hold its annual “Stuff-A-Bus” food drive on Saturday, December 6th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Shaw’s Market parking lot in Ludlow. This is one of the most important food drives of the year for BRGNS. Volunteers are needed to sort the food as it comes in, and countless other tasks are required to make sure that the Holiday boxes find their way to everyone who needs help. Please call Audrey at BRGNS’ Food Shelf and Thrift Store, 228-3663 or visit 37B Main Street to ask how you can get involved.
5. EVENTS: The Okemo Mountain School’s Annual Ski and Snowboard Swap runs from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon at the base lodge at Okemo. This is a good time to pick up winter clothing as well as ski, snowboarding and other winter outdoor gear. Thanksgiving is on Thursday Nov. 27. The town office will be closed Nov. 27 and 28.
For information about these and other events, go to
• On going Cavendish Fall Activities
Many people in Cavendish, including second homeowners, residents and visitors, complain about Internet and other telecommunication services. In September, we posted an article Cavendish Internet Problems Continues and now Cavendish Connects is documenting the extensiveness of the problem with an on-line survey. If you have not done so, you have until Nov. 30 to respond on-line.
A very common question is how and why did we end up in the predicament? To answer that question, below is an overview of the current situation:
• TDS Purchases Ludlow Telephone Company: When TDS purchased Ludlow Telephone Company, in the early 1980s, the federal government provided a subsidy to rural landline carriers so that between fees and the subsidy, TDS enjoyed a reasonable profit margin. With the arrival of cell phones and Internet in the 1990s, and their expansion in subsequent years, TDS’s profits plummeted.
• The Federal Government switches its backing from landlines to broadband: Recognizing that the future lay in wireless, cell and broadband, the federal government decided to take the rural carrier (landline) subsidy and reassign it to the development of broadband. To that end, VTel was awarded a $75 million federal grant to provide underserved areas of VT, by 2013, with wireless service, as well as to upgrade their landline users with high fiber optics. VTel serves 14 towns in southern VT. It wasn't long after this that TDS closed their Ludlow office.
• What this means for TDS Subscribers: TDS has lost significant market share and at this juncture, has no plans to provide the types of upgrades they are doing in other parts of the country because a) it’s very expensive, b) they have no subsidies and c) there is no financial incentive for them to do so. So what does that mean for TDS users?
- Because landlines are a regulated utility and TDS is the incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) for our area, they can’t leave without a) selling the service to another company and/or b) another company is providing service to the area.
- If you are having issues with your landline, because it is a regulated utility, call Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) at 1-800-622-4496 and they can help you.
- The wiring for landline and Internet is copper based. Without proper maintenance, erosion of service will not be just Internet but also landline.
- Internet is not a regulated utility, so there is no leverage to force TDS to make the upgrades and repairs that are needed.
• Be Grateful for our TDS Service Team: Please note, the TDS service team in our area often goes above and beyond the call of duty to help people. Do not take your frustrations out on them for decisions that are beyond their control.
• VTel: VTel was given a two-year extension on their statewide wireless system. While the service is to be available statewide by 2015, in September, VTel’s Lead Wireless Specialist, Andrea Spaans stated that, there is no guarantee that the service when implemented will cover 100% of Cavendish. While some residents have been able to take advantage of the new wireless service, others have been told there is no room on the Mt. Ascutney Tower. On Nov. 17, there was a major failure on this tower. VTel has told their subscribers they will not be billed for November for the several days break in service.
• Comcast: Internet services are the bread and butter for this company, and they tend to limit themselves to locations with much higher property density. However, under the Certificate of Public Good, they are required to extend their service in certain circumstances. If you live in relatively close proximity to someone with Comcast, and you have called the company and been told no, contact the Vermont Telecommunications Authority’s Consumer Division, who can negotiate on your behalf. The toll free number to call is 1-800-622-4496.
• State Level: The State of VT now has a telecommunications plan that would essentially require high fiber optics to every VT address by the year 2024, when all Vermonters should have access to upload and download speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps). For comparison, TDS’s current fastest speed for our area is 15 Mbps, with many reporting speeds closer to 1. To understand more about the VT telecommunications plan and the future of Internet service in the state, read the VT Public Radio article Telecom Plan Raises Questions About Internet Service.
• Other changes at the state level include the phasing out of Vermont Telecommunications Authority by June 2015. Their function will be housed in the Vermont Department of Information and Innovation (DII).
• At the Federal Level: Obama wants broadband regulated by the FCC. If that happens, which won't occur without a major fight from Comcast and the other Internet franchises, the system could unfold similar to the rural electrification project of the 1930s and 40s. Potentially TDS and other landline carriers could benefit and have funds to provide high fiber optics.
So where does that leave us? As we’re learning from the survey, the lack of appropriate telecommunications is having a negative impact on our economic future. With the national business trend showing high growth in home business and telecommuters, Cavendish needs to take this issue very seriously, particularly as more than one respondent noted, The lack of adequate, reliable and reasonably-priced telecommunication services (internet and mobile) prevents us from moving to Cavendish full-time. I have a home-based business that requires me to be reliably on-line and available, and this is simply not possible in Cavendish.
While many hope VTel will be the answer, the wireless service is expensive and ultimately will not meet the eventual state standard. It’s at best a stop- gap measure, as what’s appears to be the long-term solution is high fiber optics.
Neither Cavendish nor Vermont is unique in their current telecommunications situation. It is frustrating to see how many other parts of the world are offering far better service at much cheaper prices. One solution continues to be put forth-municipal fiber. Basically, the town takes on the responsibility of designing a system that will work for them. Once such example in Vermont is EC Fiber, that is a coop of 24 towns, including Reading. Would this be an option for Cavendish?
Because of the critical importance of telecommunications, for a sustainable Cavendish, telecommunications must become a priority concern of the town.
If you have not taken the Cavendish Telecommunications survey, please take a few minutes and do so on-line.
Since the spring, considerable concern has been raised in Cavendish about the quality and lack of Internet service. In order to address the situation, it is important that there is documentation of the extent of the problem, including parts of town most impacted, carriers who are able/or not able to provide adequate service and other issues that may not be currently recognized. Therefore, to assess the current telecommunications (Internet, land line, cell and TV) situation, Cavendish Connects is conducting an on-line survey until November 30.
Please take a few minutes to answer the on-line survey. Results will be compiled and presented to the Cavendish Select board at their December 8 meeting and will be also posted to The Dish, the blog of Cavendish Connects.
