Rutland, VT - Wendy Butler, P. Frank Winkler, Janet Beers Winkler, Janice Neilson, Rodney Boise, and Deanne Boise and the Vermont Electric Power Company, Inc. (VELCO) today announced a settlement that ends a dispute over VELCO’s rights to string fiber optic cable along its electric transmission line.  VELCO’s fiber optic network serves as the backbone for the delivery of high-speed data and internet service to Vermonters.  This network is highly cost effective and conserves the state’s working landscape by greatly reducing the need for additional communications-only structures. 

Peter Langrock, attorney for the landowners, said this: “At the time we filed our lawsuit, we believed that we had a legitimate legal dispute with VELCO, but the courts have since resolved the legal issues in VELCO’s favor.  But even during our earlier disagreement over the law, every one of VELCO’s associates, contractors, and right-of-way agents always acted honestly and respectfully with our firm and our clients.  An amicable settlement to this dispute meets everyone’s best interest.”   The agreement means the dismissal of the landowners’ Vermont Supreme Court appeal, and leaves intact a trial court decision that affirms VELCO’s right to install excess fiber optic capacity in its electric transmission corridors and finds no basis to support any claims that VELCO’s employees and agents acted improperly when dealing with the landowners.  

VELCO’s President and CEO, John Donleavy praised the settlement: “VELCO understands the concerns of our neighbors who own land next to out reliability projects.  We believe the courts’ previous decisions together with today’s agreement achieve an appropriate balance of landowner rights, ratepayer protection and Vermont’s broader policy goal of universal access to telecommunications services.