AGENDA DATE: 11/4/2015
TITLE:. Update on Broadband
.BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Update on Broadband Vision and Planning
ITEM TYPE: Consent Information Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Foley, Letteri, Davis, Kamptner, Culp
PRESENTER (S): N/A
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Thomas C. Foley
BACKGROUND:
The County is working toward its goal of deploying broadband to its rural areas. Broadband deployment requires a telecommunications planning process, and there are state and federal grants available to localities for the creation of a telecommunications plan. The County has submitted a grant application to the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for a $75,000 grant through the Virginia Telecommunications Planning Initiative (VATPI) to develop a comprehensive telecommunications plan for residential and agri-business telecommunications in the County’s rural areas, as well as a grant application to the DHCD for a $30,000 grant to develop a telecommunications plan that would be focused on job creation through advancing rural agri-business. Staff has a Request for Proposal (RFP) ready to release as soon as the County is notified of the award status of these grants. Staff intends to contract with one or more qualified bidders to work with the County to develop the telecommunications plan.
The purpose of this Executive Summary is to provide information and a progress update regarding the funding options for completing the telecommunications plan.
STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal 2. Critical Infrastructure: Prioritize, plan and invest in critical infrastructure that responds to past and future changes and improves the capacity to serve community needs.
Goal 5. Educational Opportunities: Provide lifelong learning opportunities for all our citizens.
Goal 7. Operational Capacity: Ensure County government’s ability to provide high quality service that achieves community priorities.
DISCUSSION:
If the County is not awarded one of the grants, staff will request a meeting with the DHCD to discuss the award evaluation process and to determine the availability of any other funding options. Based on the outcomes of the meeting, the County will either “scale back” the RFP by removing some of the requirements or will request that the Board appropriate additional funding. Staff intends to continue its efforts to develop a telecommunications plan, regardless of whether the County is awarded grant funding.
The two pending grant applications are:
$75,000 VATPI grant - this would fund the creation of a comprehensive telecommunications plan to cover residential and business, rural or otherwise. This plan will include comprehensive current coverage mapping as well as assessments of the various network efforts in progress and being planned. A telecommunications plan will assist the County in understanding various strategies for moving broadband forward through technology and provide guidance and options around various funding decisions.
$30,000 CDBG grant (through the Community Development Block Grant Program) - this would fund the creation of a telecommunications plan with a limited focus on job creation through advancing rural agri-business.
If the County is not awarded either grant, staff will provide information regarding other funding options to the Board for its consideration at a future Board meeting.
BUDGET IMPACT: To date, the Board of Supervisors has appropriated $3,900 to contract with the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC) to support the CDBG grant application and approved the transfer of $30,000 from the Grant Leveraging Fund to the IT Operating Budget. The purpose of the $30,000 is to complete a Community Telecommunications Plan.
RECOMMENDATION:Recommenda
This Executive Summary is for information only. No action is required by the Board at this time.