AGENDA DATE: 8/16/2023
TITLE:
Title
Albemarle Broadband Authority Quarterly Report
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Receive the Albemarle Broadband Authority Quarterly Report
ITEM TYPE: Consent Information Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Henry, Fritz, Culp
PRESENTER (S): N/A
LEGAL REVIEW: Not Required
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: The Albemarle Broadband Authority (ABBA) was incorporated on August 21, 2017, to extend affordable broadband internet service access to every customer in Albemarle County. This quarterly report is being provided as information on ABBA’s work from April - June 2023.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Infrastructure Investment - Prioritize, plan, and invest in critical infrastructure that responds to past and future changes and improves the capacity to serve community needs.
DISCUSSION: ABBA has held five public meetings in 2023. The ABBA agendas and meeting minutes are posted for public review on the County’s website. During this reporting period, ABBA and the Broadband Accessibility and Affordability Office (BAAO) continued to administer the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) 2021 and 2022 projects, which combined will achieve universal broadband access in Albemarle County by the end of 2025.
During this reporting period, staff heard from the Department of Housing and Community Development that the joint application with several localities, administered by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, and in partnership with Firefly Fiber Broadband, was not offered funds. During the next reporting period, ABBA and BAAO will work on alternative funding for the project to reach 1,575 locations in the County.
BAAO continued monitoring the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Bridge benefit, which extends the $30 per month federal ACP benefit by adding up to an additional $20 per month for eligible households. Staff is in process to add a second provider partner for the ACP Bridge benefit and eligible residents have begun to see the additional credit on their monthly bills. This effort was funded through general fund appropriations during the FY 21 and FY 22 budgets. During this reporting period, BAAO continued preparations to implement a grant-funded ACP Outreach program.
BUDGET IMPACT: There is no expected budget impact.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board receive this report for information.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Quarterly Report