CIT Broadband
CIT Broadband is the only resource in the Commonwealth that offers a “holistic” supply and demand approach to solving the broadband equation.
The current mission of CIT’s Broadband Program is to “accelerate the socio-economic growth of Virginia’s rural and under-served areas through the application and use of broadband telecommunications.” This bold mission statement emphasizes the idea that the true value of broadband telecommunications infrastructure is derived from the applications that traverse its capacity, not the mere existence of the infrastructure.
The current mission of CIT’s Broadband Program is to “accelerate the socio-economic growth of Virginia’s rural and under-served areas through the application and use of broadband telecommunications.” This bold mission statement emphasizes the idea that the true value of broadband telecommunications infrastructure is derived from the applications that traverse its capacity, not the mere existence of the infrastructure.
How We Can Help YouBroadband Consulting Services | The CIT Broadband team has the knowledge, experience, methodology and tools to perform a comprehensive assessment of existing services, assets and infrastructure to guide the development of a strategic broadband plan for your community.
Our team leverages the Commonwealth’s proven Broadband Toolkit methodology in concert with Virginia’s broadband mapping data and broadband deployment planning tools to:
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Chief Broadband Advisor – Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade | The Chief Broadband Advisor serves as Virginia's single point of contact and integration for broadband issues, efforts, and initiatives and to increase the availability and affordability of broadband throughout all regions of the Commonwealth.
Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) / Office of Broadband Assistance | CIT provides the technical assistance component of the Commonwealth Connect Broadband Team. CIT serves as an advocate for localities by facilitating public private partnerships, creating tools and resources that enable localities to better plan for broadband, and acts as a repository for broadband information such as coverage maps and funding sources. CIT also staffs the Broadband Advisory Council and the Office of Broadband Assistance.
Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) | DHCD provides broadband grants through its Virginia Telecommunications Infrastructure (VATI) grant program. The VATI grant program prepares communities to build, utilize, and capitalize on telecommunications infrastructure with the goal of creating strong, competitive communities.
For more information check out the Commonwealth Connect report.
- Evan Feinman - Chief Broadband Advisor
- Kyle Rosner - Broadband Policy Specialist
Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) / Office of Broadband Assistance | CIT provides the technical assistance component of the Commonwealth Connect Broadband Team. CIT serves as an advocate for localities by facilitating public private partnerships, creating tools and resources that enable localities to better plan for broadband, and acts as a repository for broadband information such as coverage maps and funding sources. CIT also staffs the Broadband Advisory Council and the Office of Broadband Assistance.
- Chuck Kirby - Vice President of Broadband Programs
- Jean Plymale - Broadband Project Manager
- Caroline Luxhoj - Broadband Program Administrator
Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) | DHCD provides broadband grants through its Virginia Telecommunications Infrastructure (VATI) grant program. The VATI grant program prepares communities to build, utilize, and capitalize on telecommunications infrastructure with the goal of creating strong, competitive communities.
- Tamarah Holmes - Associate Director of Community Development Policy
- Tammy Breski - Telecommunication and Broadband Project Manager
For more information check out the Commonwealth Connect report.
Broadband Touches Everything
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Citizen engagement: Guide local governments through the Strategic Broadband Roadmap and Toolkit to assess their citizens’ broadband utilization and aggregate demand.
Economic Development: Using the Roadmap, work with all localities to gather current and future broadband needs from businesses and community anchor institutions to ensure communities are positioned to participate in the New Virginia Economy. Innovation: Work with localities to bring fiber to innovation centers, industrial and business parks by establishing partnerships with broadband providers. Education: Conduct analysis, in partnership with Education Superhighway and Library of Virginia, of school and library connectivity in order to identify those in need of more capacity and to ensure reasonable pricing. Public Safety: Leading outreach and data collection for FirstNet in every locality throughout the Commonwealth in order to educate and document Virginia’s public safety communications requirements. Health IT: Conducted annual assessments of Health IT implementation and utilization in Virginia to help decision makers assess gaps in coverage and better support Health IT initiatives. |
Broadband Mapping
In 2008 the Commonwealth, as recommended by the Commonwealth’s Broadband Roundtable, recognized the need for statewide broadband mapping and completed its first mapping initiative. The first-generation map, created by CIT and partners, Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN) and Virginia Tech’s Center for Geospatial Information Technology (CGIT), and a myriad of private sector partners was the only state map in the U.S. to be based on “address-level” data, and developed at no cost to the citizens. This initiative placed Virginia amongst the national broadband mapping leaders, and provided the basis for current broadband initiatives.
As a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), in 2010 the National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA) awarded Virginia’s designated broadband entity, CIT and partners, VGIN and Virginia Tech, a State Broadband Initiative (SBI) grant which provided just under $4 million for broadband mapping. The purpose of this funding was to build on the initial 2008 map, provide additional verification and validation, and align Virginia data with requirements for inclusion in the National Broadband Map.
In 2011, the Commonwealth released a second edition of its broadband availability map, which in addition to including more providers’ data, this map, unlike the previous version of the map, allowed users to search by address and view a list of providers available in that particular location. Over the following years, the Virginia broadband team, CIT, VGIN and Virginia Tech, worked tirelessly to update the map to reflect the state’s ever-changing broadband footprint, increase broadband provider participation, and constantly work to improve the map’s accuracy.
The SBI program ended in February 2015, however, the General Assembly, for the first time, allocated funding to maintain the state broadband program viewing it as critical to the resolution of the digital divide in Virginia. Through this state funding, CIT continues its broadband access data collection and mapping on a biannual basis.
To view the Virginia Broadband Availability Map: https://broadband.cgit.vt.edu/IntegratedToolbox/
As a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), in 2010 the National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA) awarded Virginia’s designated broadband entity, CIT and partners, VGIN and Virginia Tech, a State Broadband Initiative (SBI) grant which provided just under $4 million for broadband mapping. The purpose of this funding was to build on the initial 2008 map, provide additional verification and validation, and align Virginia data with requirements for inclusion in the National Broadband Map.
In 2011, the Commonwealth released a second edition of its broadband availability map, which in addition to including more providers’ data, this map, unlike the previous version of the map, allowed users to search by address and view a list of providers available in that particular location. Over the following years, the Virginia broadband team, CIT, VGIN and Virginia Tech, worked tirelessly to update the map to reflect the state’s ever-changing broadband footprint, increase broadband provider participation, and constantly work to improve the map’s accuracy.
The SBI program ended in February 2015, however, the General Assembly, for the first time, allocated funding to maintain the state broadband program viewing it as critical to the resolution of the digital divide in Virginia. Through this state funding, CIT continues its broadband access data collection and mapping on a biannual basis.
To view the Virginia Broadband Availability Map: https://broadband.cgit.vt.edu/IntegratedToolbox/
Broadband Advisory Council
The Broadband Advisory Council is established as an advisory council, within the meaning of § 2.2-2100, in the executive branch of state government. The purpose of the Council shall be to advise the Governor on policy and funding priorities to expedite deployment and reduce the cost of broadband access in the Commonwealth.
Members
For meeting minutes and information:
https://commonwealthconnect.virginia.gov/BAC
Members
- Delegate Kathy Byron (Chair) - House of Delegates
- Senator Frank Ruff (Vice Chair) - Senate
- Delegate James Leftwich - House of Delegates
- Delegate Emily Brewer - House of Delegates
- Delegate Paul Krizek - House of Delegates
- Senator Ryan McDougle - Senate
- Senator Glen Sturtevant - Senate
- Secretary Brian Ball - Secretary of Commerce and Trade
- Secretary Bettina Ring - Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry
- Ray LaMura - Virginia Cable Telecommunications Associtaion (VCTA)
- Duront Walton - Virginia Telecommunications Industry Association (VTIA)
- James Carr - Virginia Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA)
- Kristie Helmick Proctor - Center for Rural Virginia
- Rosemary Wilson - Local Government Representative (Virginia Beach)
For meeting minutes and information:
https://commonwealthconnect.virginia.gov/BAC
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