[Gemini1963]

Hi everyone.

I am new to the forum but have been lurking for a while.

My husband and I are considering moving back to Vermont (we lived there for 6 years before moving to Austin, where we've been for basically the last 12 years). In the time we've been away from VT, a lot has changed with computers & internet (to put it mildly), so I am asking:

We are considering being within 10 miles of Montpelier, or Brattleboro, or Middlebury, or Wardsboro. We want to have a few acres so we can have a couple of horses, so we won't be right in town, wherever we go. We both work freelance from home, and so we are very dependent on good internet service. If the local internet service is bad or even intermittent, our plan is totally sunk.

Of the places I've mentioned, does anyone have input about the quality (good or bad) of the internet service? We have Time Warner cable here in Austin, and it's working great for us. And, for bonus points, if anyone has ballpark figures for the monthly cost of good internet service in any one of these areas, that would be great.

Thank you!

[Jerryb75]

I think around Montpelier you wouldn't have any trouble with net. Not sure about the other 3 places though. The further from town you get though the less service you get. Satellite is always an option though

[vter]

It's something you'll have to call around and ask I'm afraid. I know the Burlington-Middlebury corridor is serviced by Comcast for cable internet, and that DHL is available through Vtel in the Rutland area and through Waitsfield/Champlain Valley telecom in the northern Addison/Southern Chittenden County areas.
Wardsboro is the most rural of the areas you are considering. You could call the Wardsboro Town Hall and ask them what the internet situation is.

[Sherylcatmom]

In Rutland, we buy DSL internet service from Fairpoint. The service has been great; we almost never lose internet connection and tech support gets right on anything we call them about.

Rutlanders can also choose Comcast and, I think, other services, too.

Originally Posted by vter

It's something you'll have to call around and ask I'm afraid. I know the Burlington-Middlebury corridor is serviced by Comcast for cable internet, and that DHL is available through Vtel in the Rutland area and through Waitsfield/Champlain Valley telecom in the northern Addison/Southern Chittenden County areas.
Wardsboro is the most rural of the areas you are considering. You could call the Wardsboro Town Hall and ask them what the internet situation is.

[Gemini1963]

Thank you very much for your replies. We'll call around to see what we can learn.

[nhrocky]

Using Fairpoint DSL depends on how far you are from their switching stations, you have to be within a certain distance to get DSL. Comcast is the local cable company in the Bratt area. Not sure how far out they go. Although I'm in NH, our phone service has always been switched out of the Bratt station & can get DSL.

Sovernet is a local ISP. Also Great Auk Wireless, although they might be losing internet access in the Stratton area due to increased tower rates at Stratton Corp. VTel is an ISP too.

[joe moving]

Hope it is ok to piggy back on this thread; I am wondering if GMA / Waitsfield telecom is the only internet/cheapest internet in the MRV? They want $63 - that is for regular 6mbps/1mbps internet and a phone line (they are saying a phone line is required for internet...) with no features. i am basically looking for the cheapest reliable internet, don't really need a phone but if I do not have a choice then I do not have a choice. Thanks.

[j_jimerino]

Just don't trust anything comcast says before you buy a house. Make sure some one actually has cable working and hitched up at the location before you assume its available there.