Vermont Legislature Awards $1M for Community Media in FY25 Budget

Vermont Access Network (VAN) is pleased to announce that the Vermont Legislature has included $1 million in its FY25 base budget to support the work of Vermont’s 24 community media centers.

VAN is part of the state’s social and civic infrastructure. Vermont’s community media centers were recognized by the State of Vermont as an “essential service” during the COVID pandemic as they kept the wheels of democracy turning with interactive public meeting coverage and distribution of emergency information.

VAN members operate 75+ PEG cable channels and dozens of internet “channels”, employ nearly 100 people in dozens of communities across Vermont; produce more than 18,000 hours of staff and volunteer generated TV and radio each year (including live open government public meetings, election forums and results, education access, community events, sports, cultural exchange, media education and the programs on topics from race to religion); maintain extensive video archives that play an important role in the preservation of local identity; and, provide unique non-commercial and community controlled resources–unlike commercial TV channels or today’s social media platforms (e.g., YouTube, Facebook, TikTok).

The Legislature designated the Vermont Secretary of State to distribute these funds which will help to offset the decline in cable revenue (a large part of community media funding) and provide a sustainable funding source for Vermont’s uniquely local, non-commercial community media services.

VAN is a statewide nonprofit organization that represents its members in matters of mutual concern, including the effective operation and advancement of Public, Educational and Government (PEG) access services throughout the State. For a complete list of VAN Members, please see: https://vermontaccess.net/

CONTACT: VAN President, Kurt Broderson at Kurt [at] middleburycommunitytv [dot] org or 802-388-3062.