Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD)
BEAD Challenge Process
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has released the challenge portal, as well as the speed test and reporting dashboard for the upcoming BEAD Challenge Process. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has released the challenge portal, as well as the speed test and reporting dashboard for the upcoming BEAD Challenge Process. The challenge window will open on November 1, 2023. The review period of challenges and rebuttals will take place on a rolling basis, as challenges are received and follow the stated timelines of Virginia’s approved Volume 1 of its BEAD Initial Proposal, which is provided below.
Per the model BEAD Challenge Process, which DHCD has adopted, DHCD must post an overview of the challenge process phases, challenge timelines, and instructions on how to submit and rebut a challenge at least one week prior to the opening of the challenge window. This information is publicly available now at the Challenge Portal Link below.
As the subject of this challenge process, DHCD has published the lists of initially identified, BEAD-eligible unserved and underserved locations. These files are available on the Virginia Open Data Portal and are titled “Unserved BEAD Eligible Locations” and “Underserved BEAD Eligible Locations.” DHCD has also published a full list of “Virginia BEAD Community Anchor Institutions” (CAIs) for the BEAD challenge process, as well as a list of “Unserved BEAD Eligible Community Anchor Institutions.”
These unserved and underserved location, as well as Unserved CAI files include Federal Communication Commission’s Broadband Availability Map Fabric (“Fabric”) Location IDs of these locations. DHCD is not permitted to post full address information of these locations, per a CostQuest agreement which govern the use and sharing of Fabric Location IDs. To download Fabric Location IDs, with full associated physical addresses, broadband providers must secure a Tier D License from CostQuest to view the statewide fabric. Broadband providers should visit https://apps.costquest.com/ntiarequest/ to request this full Fabric and address list.. Local governments and Non-Profits must secure a Tier E License from CostQuest to view the statewide fabric. These groups should visit https://apps.costquest.com/ntiatiererequest/ to request this full Fabric and address list. More information about his Tier D and E licensure requests can be found here.
BEAD FIVE YEAR PLAN
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has published the BEAD 5-Year Plan. The Plan identifies the broadband access, affordability, and adoption needs in the Commonwealth, and outlines Virginia’s plans to close the digital divide under the BEAD program. This document is developed under the requirements of BEAD program.
BEAD Initial Proposal
The Office of Broadband has published the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Initial Proposal, as required under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD).
This document reflects the version as submitted to the National Telecommunications and Information Association (NTIA) for consideration after the public comment period. This document does not reflect the final version, which may include additional edits as requested by NTIA to be in compliance with the BEAD Program.
VIRGINIA TELECOMMUNICATION INITIATIVE FY2024
Guidelines and Criteria
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has released the 2024 Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) Program Guidelines and Criteria.
Timeline
Important Note: The timeline outlined below is for the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative FY2024 Application Period for the purposes of State General Funds. This timeline does not reflect dates and deadlines for funding under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. BEAD dates and deadlines will be posted separately on this webpage.
August 1 – Draft Guidelines Released for Opening of Public Comment Period
August 24, 10AM – 12PM – Public Input Session on Draft Guidelines
September 1 – Public Comment Period on Draft Guidelines Closes
September 20 – DHCD releases Final Guidelines for the FY2024 VATI Round
September 21, 10AM – 12PM – VATI How-to-Apply Webinar
September 21 – Applications Open
September 21 – December 19 – VATI Technical Assistance and Project Development Sessions
October 19 – Notice of Applications Due
October 26 – DHCD Posts Notices of Application on VATI website
December 19 – Applications Due
January 4 (2024) – DHCD Posts Applications on VATI Website
February 8 – Challenges Due
February 15 – DHCD Notifies Challenged Applicants
March 8 – Deadline for Challenge Rebuttals
April 12 – DHCD Notifies All Parties of Challenge Determination
April 23 – Rescoped Application Materials Due Reflective of Challenge Determination
To Be Announced – Anticipated Announcement of Awards
FY2024 VATI Notices of Application
All VATI applicants are required to issue a VATI Notice of Application detailing their intent to apply for VATI funding no later than October 19, 2023. The partnerships listed in these notices are non-binding and there is no penalty for submitting a notice of application and not applying for VATI. Internet service providers or proposed application areas are listed with notices of application if the county submitted two or more notices of application with different co-applicants. Notices of application received by DHCD are provided in the table below:
|
Unit of Local Government |
Letter Submitted |
|
Albemarle County Broadband Authority |
|
|
Alleghany County |
|
|
Amelia County |
|
|
Augusta County |
|
|
Botetourt County |
|
|
Campbell County |
|
|
Carroll County - Citizens |
|
|
Carroll County – Charter |
|
|
Carroll County - ZiTEL |
|
|
Central Virginia PDC |
|
|
Charles City County |
|
|
Culpeper County |
|
|
Dinwiddie County |
|
|
Eastern Shore of Virginia Broadband Authority |
|
|
Fairfax County |
|
|
Franklin County |
|
|
Giles County |
|
|
Gloucester County |
|
|
Greensville County - Charter |
|
|
Greensville County - Verizon |
|
|
Hanover County |
|
|
Henry County |
|
|
Isle of Wight County |
|
|
King William County |
|
|
Lancaster County |
|
|
LENOWISCO Planning District Commission |
|
|
Loudoun County |
|
|
Louisa County |
|
|
Middlesex County |
|
|
Northern Neck Planning District Commission |
|
|
Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission |
|
|
Orange County |
|
|
Prince George County |
|
|
Prince William County |
|
|
Roanoke County |
|
|
Rockbridge County |
|
|
Southside Network Authority |
|
|
Southside Planning District Commission |
|
|
Spotsylvania County |
|
|
Suffolk |
|
|
Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission |
|
|
West Piedmont Planning District Commission |
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
VIRGINIA TELECOMMUNICATION INITIATIVE PROJECT DASHBOARD
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has released the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) Project Dashboard for projects funded in the FY21 and FY22 program cycles. The dashboard reports on key project progress indicators, including dollars expended and locations provided broadband access. The dashboard is designed for residents and other stakeholders to stay informed on the progress of projects in their areas to provide broadband access.
