AGENDA DATE: 1/15/2025
TITLE:
Title
Resolution to Delegate to ABBA Authority to Issue BEAD Letters of Support on the County’s Behalf
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Resolution to Delegate to ABBA Authority to Issue BEAD Letters of Support for Internet Service Provider Grant Applications
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Deloria, Dimock, Inofuentes
PRESENTER (S): N/A
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: The Albemarle Broadband Authority (ABBA) was established to facilitate publicly funded broadband expansions throughout the unserved areas of the County. The success of the Authority places the County in the enviable position of having fewer than 400 locations that are either not served or not included in a grant-funded project area. The Commonwealth’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has been designated as the lead agency responsible for distributing the $1.4B allocated to Virginia from the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. BEAD establishes Internet Service Providers (ISPs) as the applicants in the program, and DHCD has established that ISPs should obtain Letters of Support from localities for their applications. The application window has now opened, and applications are expected to be due by the end of March 2025.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Infrastructure & Placemaking - Invest in infrastructure and amenities that create connection, opportunity, and well-being.
DISCUSSION: Past public broadband programs have placed localities or regional bodies as the applicants. The County previously delegated the authority to pursue these grants to ABBA. Over its nearly eight years, ABBA has maintained an awareness of the areas of the County lacking broadband service, facilitated by the work of the Broadband Office. Together, ABBA and the Broadband Office are well-equipped to accept and evaluate requests from ISPs for letters of support.
BUDGET IMPACT: There is no budget impact.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the Board adopt the proposed resolution (Attachment A) delegating authority to ABBA to issue BEAD letters of support on behalf of the County.
ATTACHMENTS:
Att. A - Proposed Resolution
Att. B - ABBA - BEAD Letter of Support Additional Information