AGENDA DATE: 1/9/2019
TITLE:
Title
Albemarle Broadband Authority Quarterly Report
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Albemarle Broadband Authority Quarterly Report
ITEM TYPE: Consent Information Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Henry, Culp, Fritz
PRESENTER (S): Mike Culp, Bucky Walsh
LEGAL REVIEW: Not Required
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: The Albemarle Broadband Authority (ABBA) was incorporated on August 21, 2017. The ABBA Board of Directors re-elected William "Bucky" Walsh as Chair during its annual organizational meeting on August 22, 2018. This report is being provided as information on ABBA's work to date.
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. Educational Opportunities: Provide lifelong learning opportunities for all our citizens. Quality Government Operations: Ensure County government's ability to provide high quality service that achieves community priorities.
DISCUSSION: ABBA held eleven public meetings in 2018. The agendas and meeting minutes are posted for public review on the County's website. ABBA also updated the Broadband Initiative website to provide citizen tools.
During October 2018, ABBA collected broadband input from citizens throughout County. The broadband input documented the areas of the County where broadband service is lacking.
The broadband input became documentation for the submittal of three applications for Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) Grants. The three grant applications represent a total request of $507,548 from DHCD while contributing $140,100 if all three applications are offered funding. The expected announcement date is in late January 2019.
ABBA is finalizing the close-out of a prior VATI funded project with Comcast. The project in Greenwood, VA was completed ahead of schedule and under budget.
In addition to t...
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