Virginia Telecommunication Initiative and Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program: 2024 Report
Summary
The 2024 Annual Report for Virginia Telecommunication Initiative and Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program funded projects, submitted by the Department of Housing and Community Development in December 2024 and required by § 56-466.1 of the Code of Virginia. The executive summary states that VATI FY22, FY23, and FY24 projects will provide access to broadband infrastructure to 334,873 passings across Virginia, with $828.4 million in state and federal funding awarded and $1.228 billion in private and local match funding leveraged. It states that 32 out of the 61 projects are scheduled to be completed on time and that DHCD identifies 29 projects as at risk. The report ends with project tables, with data as of September 2024 Monthly Project Reports.
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“Virginia Telecommunication Initiative and Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program: 2024 Report.”
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Annual Report for Virginia
Telecommunication Initiative and Broadband
Equity, Access, and Deployment Program
Funded Projects
Required by §56-466.1 of the Code of Virginia
2024 Report
Submitted by:
The Department of Housing and Community Development
December 2024
Executive Summary
Virginia funds broadband deployment within the Commonwealth through several programs.
The largest and main program is the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI). The upcoming
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD) will finish the job of attaining universal
connectivity in the Commonwealth. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community
Development (DHCD) anticipated BEAD funding will be awarded in Summer 2025, with projects
beginning in 2026 for the last ~131,000 passings in the Commonwealth without broadband and
without a funded solution for connectivity.
VATI provides grants to localities partnered with internet service providers to finance the
deployment of high-speed broadband to locations (called a “passing”) within the Commonwealth
that are determined to be “unserved.” Passings are places where the internet can be accessed – thus
it could be a business, community anchor, a home, or an apartment complex. A passing is
unserved1 if it lacks access to internet speeds of 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) download and
20 Megabits (Mbps) upload (“100/20”). BEAD has a similar eligibility structure, with locations
lacking 100/20 eligible for funding under the program.
This report is required by statute and has been prepared by the Office of Broadband located
within DHCD. This report tracks the technical performance of the VATI provider partners in
their work to deploy broadband. This report adheres to the factors that the General Assembly
directed to be tracked and presents them in the manner directed by the General Assembly.
Below are the key takeaways from the report:
● Total passings: VATI FY22, FY23, and FY24 projects will provide access to
broadband infrastructure to 334,873 passings across Virginia.
● Leveraged local and private funding: In addition to $828.4 million in state and federal
funding awarded, FY22, FY23, and FY24 projects leverage a total of $1.228 billion in
private and local match funding. To-date, $237 million of these awarded funds have
been expended, with $297.7 million of these matching funds have been expended.
● Locations Built-To: To date, FY22 and FY23 projects have provided broadband access
to 106,000 locations. The 10 FY24 projects are getting under contract and will begin
final engineering and design, as well as construction in late 2024 through early 2025.
● Maximum Speeds Available: Over 93.4% of projects funded in FY22, FY23, and FY24
offer functionally gigabit (1,000 Mbps) download speeds, and over 73.7% offer
functionally gigabit upload speeds.
In conclusion, 32 out of the 61 projects funded from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
(ARPA) and General Funds from FY22, FY23, and FY24 are scheduled to being completed on
time as of the time of this report’s submission. 29 projects, DHCD identifies, are at risk for
incompletion or underperformance. Justification for these delays include the make-ready effort,
which includes preparing existing electric poles for aerial broadband network construction, as well
as supply chain and labor markets, streamlining utility locate efforts, railroad crossings, the
permitting process to lay fiber in state-owned rights of way along roads, and permitting to cross
federally owned lands. Looking forward, DHCD will continue its ongoing work to monitor these
1
In the FY22 VATI process, the definition of unserved was set at 25/3. This definition of unserved has been upgraded to
those passings lacking access to broadband at speeds of 100/20 for the FY23 VATI process.
projects, assisting where appropriate in mitigating these broadband deployment challenges.
Formal Report
Pursuant to Section § 56-466.1 of the Code of Virginia, enclosed is the Annual Report
of the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) and the federal Broadband Equity,
Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program in the Commonwealth.
Section § 56-466.1 of the Code of Virginia requires that DHCD deliver an annual report
on funds awarded through the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) and the federal
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program in the Commonwealth.
Administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
(DHCD), VATI enhances the sustainability and growth of communities throughout the
Commonwealth by preparing those communities to build, utilize, and capitalize on broadband
infrastructure. The primary objective of VATI is to provide financial assistance to supplement
construction costs by private sector broadband service providers to extend service to areas that
presently are unserved by any broadband provider. This program requires a public-private
partnership. The BEAD Program’s application process is currently underway. DHCD expects
awards to be announced under BEAD in Summer 2025, with projects beginning in early 2026.
The directive to form this report establishes that:
2. That in administrating the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) and
the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program in the
Commonwealth, the Department of Housing and Community Development is directed
to submit annually on or before December 1 of 2024 through 2028 a report to the
Governor, the General Assembly, and the State Corporation Commission on the
progress of broadband expansion projects across the Commonwealth funded through
VATI and BEAD. Such report shall assess (i) the fiber mileage constructed, (ii) the
locations passed, (iii) the timelines for remaining contracted projects, (iv) the amount
of grant funding expended, and (v) the number of projects extended and the rationale
for such extensions.
Project information displayed in this report reflects monthly report data from
September 2024, which reflects project data as of the end of August 2024.
In regards to extended projects, out of the 61 VATI projects funded in FY22, FY23, and
FY24, 29 have requested and received timeline extensions. DHCD staff continue to closely
monitor the impact of challenges impacting project timelines. DHCD has recently provided
supplemental funding to eligible projects under the Virginia Make Ready Initiative, which is
designed to mitigate the impacts of elevated make-ready costs. DHCD is closely monitoring
the impact of this program on accelerating delivery of the awarded projects.
Other deployment challenges which are being monitored by DHCD include supply
chain and labor markets, streamlining utility locate efforts, railroad crossings, the permitting
process to lay fiber in state-owned rights of way along roads, and permitting to cross federally
owned lands. DHCD and its local government and internet service provider partners are
continuing to develop innovative solutions to meet these challenges and deliver high-speed
broadband access as quickly as possible for residents in these project areas.
The project summaries included in this report are updated quarterly on the VATI Project
Dashboard, accessible through dhcd.virginia.gov/vati.
Percent
Complete, Award Funding Source
Total Passings Days
Passings GF, General Fund Percent Expended, Out
Provided Miles of Fiber Remaining in
Passings in Project Provided SLFRF, Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal of Total Awarded
Broadband Complete to Date Agreement End Agreement Awarded Funding Expended
Grantee Internet Service Provider Partner Area Broadband Agreement Start Date
from 12.1.2024 Award Amount Recovery Fund Funding
Access to Date Date
Access to CPF, Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund
Date
Bedford ZiTEL 5,644 4,114 73% 379.91 06/15/2022 3/15/2025 $11,480,664.98 GF, SLFRF $6,217,592.17 54%
104.00
Bedford Shentel 3,204 1,239 39% 137.18 09/09/2022 3/15/2025 $6,191,796.33 GF, SLFRF $375,607.14 6%
104.00
Botetourt Lumos Networks 1,901 1,193 63% 250.81 11/01/2022 12/31/2024 $3,084,796.00 CPF $1,285,150.16 42%
30.00
Campbell Shentel 3,509 1,050 30% 99.67 09/21/2022 12/31/2024 $6,443,000.00 GF, SLFRF $77,468.58 1%
30.00
Central Shenandoah PDC MGW 2,470 1,026 42% 63.97 06/01/2022 6/1/2025 $7,876,800.00 SLFRF $2,908,225.71 37%
182.00
Chesapeake Cox 279 315 100% 14.41 06/01/2022 3/31/2024 $580,435.00 SLFRF $570,435.00 98%
Complete
Commonwealth RC Kinex 11,397 7,334 62% 718 06/14/2022 6/14/2026 $15,000,000.00 GF $9,922,095.03 66%
560.00
Culpeper All Points Broadband 4,269 0 0% 42.35 08/03/2022 2/28/2025 $8,600,000.00 GF $2,804,691.76 33%
89.00
Cumberland Plateau PDC Point Broadband 6,982 4,359 62% 288.54 09/06/2022 9/6/2025 $23,478,429.00 CPF $5,889,734.30 25%
279.00
West Piedmont PDC - Dinwiddie RuralBand 417 0 0% 13.7 07/03/2022 12/31/2026 $638,718.00 SLFRF $0 0%
760.00
712
West Piedmont PDC - Dinwiddie RiverStreet Networks 5,009 0 0% 06/20/2022 6/20/2025 $6,893,337.00 SLFRF $0 0%
201.00
314
Eastern Shore of Virginia
Eastern Shore of Virginia Broadband 9,330 06/01/2022 12/31/2024 $7,329,784.96 60%
Broadband Authority
Authority 11,091 84% 30.00 $12,310,777.25 SLFRF
Floyd Citizens 723 765 100% 103 06/01/2022 6/30/2024 $1,310,267.00 SLFRF $1,179,240.30 90%
Complete
Franklin Shentel 3,508 1,178 34% 154.81 10/17/2022 10/17/2025 $11,832,456.00 GF, SLFRF $746,783.09 6%
320.00
Charter Communications 2,368 254 07/08/2022 07/08/2025 $6,217,729.01 29%
Hampton Roads PDC 12,223 19% 219.00 $21,120,053.50 SLFRF
Hanover All Points Broadband 6,198 0 0% 53.59 08/01/2022 12/31/2025 $13,970,000.00 SLFRF $3,631,562.45 26%
395.00
King William All Points Broadband 2,236 0 0% 97 08/03/2022 3/31/2025 $5,400,000.00 SLFRF $1,577,320.47 29%
120.00
394.57
Scott County Telephone
4,877 06/13/2022 12/13/2024 $10,065,435.07 45%
Cooperative
LENOWISCO PDC 10,982 44% 12.00 $22,190,500.00 SLFRF, CPF
Loudoun All Points Broadband 8,629 0 0% 85 07/01/2022 10/31/2025 $17,524,000.00 SLFRF $4,003,000.96 23%
334.00
Middlesex All Points Broadband 970 0 0% 70.1 07/22/2022 1/31/2025 $2,050,000.00 SLFRF $653,676.38 32%
61.00
Mount Rogers PDC Point Broadband 27,450 26,390 96% 1652.53 06/01/2022 5/31/2025 $65,883,228.00 CPF $45,203,185.88 695
181.00
206
New River Valley Regional
200 03/13/2023 3/13/2026 $3,452,307.84 9%
Commission Bland and Montgomery
Gigabeam 12,094 2% 467.00 $39,233,355.00 CPF
New River Valley Regional
0 0 12/06/2022 12/06/2024 $35,531.25 0.12%
Commission Pulaski All Points Broadband 7,872 0% 5.00 $29,122,000.00 CPF
Northern Neck PDC All Points Broadband 3,411 2,234 65% 210.8 09/22/2022 3/31/2025 $3,190,500.00 SLFRF $1,009,110.94 32%
120.00
Northern Shenandoah Valley RC All Points Broadband 41,690 0 0% 55.2 07/22/2022 7/22/2025 $96,873,500.00 SLFRF $2,3828,164.28 25%
233.00
Roanoke CBEC-Bee Online 495 501 100% 09/09/2022 6/1/2024 $1,581,584.00 SLFRF $1,571,584.00 99%
Complete
Roanoke Cox 396 249 63% 31.09 09/01/2022 4/15/2025 $1,535,264.00 SLFRF $0 0%
135.00
Roanoke B2X 520 180 35% wireless 09/22/2022 5/24/2025 174.00 $170,609.00 GF $35,295.43 21%
Roanoke Shentel 177 0 0% 0 10/03/2022 5/30/2025 $490,000.00 SLFRF $0 0%
180.00
Shenandoah Shentel 4,139 1,605 39% 230.20 08/01/2022 8/1/2025 $12,176,662.00 SLFRF $4,977,448.05 41%
243.00
Southside PDC EMPOWER Broadband 14,634 11,864 81% 668 07/22/2022 07/22/2025 $69,431,635.00 SLFRF $31,457,093.67 45%
233.00
Stafford Comcast 634 682 100% 68 09/06/2022 9/6/2024 $3,398,156.00 SLFRF $3,058,340.05 90%
Complete
Sussex RuralBand 2,267 1,044 46% 78.38 06/13/2022 12/13/2025 $4,896,892.00 SLFRF $1,625,776.83 33%
377.00
Thomas Jefferson PDC Firefly Broadband 36,225 13,949 39% 1,753 08/15/2022 08/15/2025 $79,027,930.00 SLFRF $35,191,537.59 45%
257.00
Charter Communications 434 74,13 08/01/2022 08/01/2025 $187,146.52 13%
West Piedmont PDC 690 63% 243.00 $1,557,385.00 CPF
West Piedmont PDC (East) RiverStreet Networks 24,641 3,878 16% 712 08/03/2022 08/03/2025 $87,003,888.00 SLFRF $16,315,896.72 19%
245.00
West Piedmont PDC (West) RiverStreet Networks 10,056 0 0% 31.99 09/30/2022 02/24/2026 $33,571,073.00 CPF $515,300.35 2%
450.00
Annual Report required by § 56-466.1 of the Code of Virginia for Virginia Telecommunication Initiative and Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program Funded Projects – FY2023 VATI Projects
Percent
Complete, Award Funding Source
Total Passings Days
Passings GF, General Fund Percent Expended, Out
Provided Miles of Fiber Remaining in Reason for a
Passings in Project Provided SLFRF, Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal of Total Awarded
Broadband Complete to Date Agreement End Agreement Project’s Delay Awarded Funding Expended
Grantee Internet Service Provider Partner Area Broadband Agreement Start Date
from Risk Award Amount Recovery Fund Funding
Access to Date Date
Access to 12.1.2024 CPF, Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund
Date
Bedford County Shentel 565 0 0% 1.88 4/1/2024 9/1/2025 No Risk None $1,373,161.74 GF $0 0%
274.00
Caroline County Breezeline 3,910 89 8% 57 10/23/2024 10/23/2026 No Risk None $6,446,000.00 GF $333,054.47 5%
691.00
Verizon 854 None GF
389 45% 61 10/23/2024 4/23/2025 No Risk $0 0%
Caroline County 143.00 $2,032,334.00
All Points Broadband 494 0 12/1/2023 11/30/2026 None GF
0 0% No Risk $0 0%
Chesterfield County 729.00 $755,523.00
Essex County Breezeline 3,526 0 0% 10 09/06/2023 09/06/2026 Low Risk OTH (Design Delay) $8,753,009.00 GF $145,382.62 2%
644.00
Floyd County Citizens 543 370 68% 49 05/30/2023 02/18/2025 No Risk None $1,339,387.00 GF $343,536.82 26%
79.00
Greensville County Verizon 1,347 575 43% 58.52 10/3/2023 4/3/2025 No Risk None $2,956,774.80 GF $0 0%
123.00
All Points Broadband 412 0 12/1/2023 11/30/2025 None GF
Henrico County 0 0% No Risk $501,620.00 $0 0%
364.00
Orange County FiberLync 576 230 40% 39 10/31/2023 04/21/2025 No Risk ROW $2,181,000.00 GF $0 0%
141.00
Shentel 2,440 48% 67.26 9/26/2023 9/26/2025 None GF
Shenandoah County 1,164 No Risk $4,936,968.00 $1,577,743.98 32%
299.00
EMPOWER Broadband 4,804 None GF
40 1% 63.27 9/26/2023 9/26/2026 No Risk $26,000 0.3%
Southside PDC 664.00 $8,556,028.84
West Piedmont PDC (Pittsylvania) RiverStreet Networks 2,102 162 8% 44.88 10/5/2023 10/5/2026 No Risk None $3,548,250.00 GF $403,927.05 11%
673.00
West Piedmont PDC (East) RiverStreet Networks 3,356 623 19% 113.36 11/6/2023 11/6/2026 No Risk None $8,155,864.00 GF $1,859,555.68 23%
705.00
None
West Piedmont PDC (West) RiverStreet Networks 4,526 0 0% 0 2/28/2024 2/28/2026 No Risk $8,013,600.00 GF $18,250 0.23%
454.00
*Data as of September 2024 Monthly Project Reports, which reflect project statistics through the end of August.
Abbreviations for Reasons for Project’s Delay: MR – Make Ready, SCL – Supply Chain and Labor, UL – Utility Locates, RR – Railroad, ROW – Right of Way Permitting along State Roads, FED – Federal Land Permitting Challenges, OTH – Other (Described)
Annual Report required by § 56-466.1 of the Code of Virginia for Virginia Telecommunication Initiative and Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program Funded Projects – FY2024 VATI Projects
Percent
Complete, Award Funding Source
Total Passings Days
Passings GF, General Fund Percent Expended, Out
Provided Miles of Fiber Remaining in Reason for a
Passings in Project Provided SLFRF, Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal of Total Awarded
Broadband Complete to Date Agreement End Agreement Project’s Delay Awarded Funding Expended
Grantee Internet Service Provider Partner Area Broadband Agreement Start Date
from Risk Award Amount Recovery Fund Funding
Access to Date Date
Access to 12.1.2024 CPF, Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund
Date
Giles County PemTel 629 0 0% 0 TBD TBD N/A No Risk None $4,199,596.00 GF $0 0%
Franklin County ZiTEL 2,543 0 0% 0 TBD TBD N/A No Risk None $4,538,288.00 GF $0 0%
None
Thomas Jefferson PDC Firefly 5,825 0 0% 0 TBD TBD N/A No Risk $12,208,500.00 GF $0 0%
Southside PDC Empower 3,983 0 0% 0 TBD TBD N/A No Risk None $3,353,579.00 GF $0 0%
Rockbridge County Brightspeed 1,734 0 0% 0 TBD TBD N/A No Risk None $975,865.00 GF $0 0%
Rockbridge County BARC 293 0 0% 0 TBD TBD N/A No Risk None $1,197,320.00 GF $0 0%
Orange County FiberLync 425 0 0% 0 TBD TBD N/A No Risk None $2,138,416.00 GF $0 0%
Alleghany County CBEC 370 0 0% 0 TBD TBD N/A No Risk None $2,332,353.00 GF $0 0%
Botetourt County Comcast 62 0 0% 0 TBD TBD N/A No Risk None $395,411.00 GF $0 0%
*Data as of September 2024 Monthly Project Reports, which reflect project statistics through the end of August.
Abbreviations for Reasons for Project’s Delay: MR – Make Ready, SCL – Supply Chain and Labor, UL – Utility Locates, RR – Railroad, ROW – Right of Way Permitting along State Roads, FED – Federal Land Permitting Challenges, OTH – Other (Described)
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