The Broadband Advisory Council meeting held on August 16, 2024, focused on the progress and future of the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VADI), highlighting significant funding achievements and project developments across the state.

Since its inception in fiscal year 2017, VADI has received a total of 235 applications, requesting over $1.2 billion in funding. To date, the initiative has awarded approximately $935 million, leveraging an additional $1.2 billion through local and private matches. These efforts are set to connect over 388,000 locations across 80 localities in Virginia.

In fiscal year 2023 alone, VADI received 35 applications from 50 localities, totaling requests of over $302 million, significantly exceeding the state’s allocation of $50 million. The council awarded $59.5 million for this year, which included funds carried over from fiscal year 2024, resulting in an anticipated 27,771 new connections.

The meeting also reviewed the most recent funding round for fiscal year 2024, where 25 applications from 39 localities were submitted, requesting $137.6 million. The council awarded $41.6 million, which is expected to leverage an additional $75.7 million and create 18,554 new connections.

The council emphasized the importance of timely project completion, particularly for those funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which has a spending deadline of December 31, 2026. Several projects from fiscal year 2022 are nearing completion, with notable successes including the City of Chesapeake, which was the first to close out an ARPA-funded project, and Stafford County, which exceeded its initial project goals.

The meeting concluded with discussions on new initiatives, including the Virginia Make Ready initiative, aimed at ensuring that ARPA-funded projects meet their deadlines and achieve their intended outcomes without losing funding. The council remains committed to expanding broadband access throughout Virginia, addressing the needs of underserved areas, and ensuring that all localities benefit from improved connectivity.