House Amends and Passes H 657 Updating Communications Fees and Terminology

The House amended and passed H 657, a measure described as "an act relating to the modernization of Vermont's communications, taxes, and fees." Representative Peterson (Clarendon) initially offered an amendment to remove the phrase "digital subscriber line" (DSL) and to narrow fee applicability to coaxial and fiber optic cable, and to limit a power-utility exemption when fiber is used to provide or is leased for broadband Internet access. Peterson withdrew his amendment after committee votes were unfavorable.

Representative Sims (Craftsbury) later offered an amendment to replace the bill language "digital subscriber line" with the clearer infrastructure term "twisted pair cable." The House adopted that amendment by voice vote and then read H 657 for third reading; the presiding officer declared the ayes had it and the bill was passed.

The amendment exchanges were framed as technical clarifications to ensure the statute targets infrastructure (coaxial, fiber, twisted pair) rather than service terminology (DSL).