Legislative

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke with Senator Leahy, Senator Sanders,  Representative Welch and Governor Douglas on the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) awarding of a $33.4 million grant to the Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) and a $13.7 million grant to the Vermont Telephone Company (VTEL) through NTIA’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).  The two grants are part of a $7.2 billion broadband investment program that Congress and President Obama crafted as part of last year’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Hosts: Reps. Bill Aswad and David Sharpe take your phone questions. Today's guest Representative Sue Minter, (D), Washington-Chittenden-1, member of House Appropriations Committee.

Senator Leahy joins officials from Comcast and the Burlington Boys & Girls Club to announce the Comcast Digital Connectors Program, which expands broadband access to low-income youths.  Leahy has championed Boys & Girls Clubs through his roles as a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Judiciary Committee, leading in steadily expanding Clubs and youths served, particularly in rural areas like Vermont.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announces at Burlington's Champlain Elementary Scool, funding for community gardens at 40 Vermont schools. Champlain School has just established a school community garden. The garden is fully prepared, the beds all dug and ready, and the students will be planting in the next few days. Jim Flint, director of Friends of Burlington Gardens, will participate in the event along with teachers, parents and students.