Virginia Telecommunications Initiative Broadband Project Continues in Loudoun

Residents and businesses in areas of Loudoun that are part of the county's Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) broadband project with All Points Broadband (APB) might see crews working after the beginning of the year. Preliminary planning, permitting and other less visible activities are underway, with fiber installation on utility poles expected to begin the first quarter of 2023. Completion of all connections is expected to take 24-30 months.

The news was delivered to the Board of Supervisors as part of a quarterly update about the county's overall Emergency Broadband Implementation Plan.

A $17.5 million grant from the state is supporting plans to connect more than 8,600 unserved residents and businesses in Loudoun County to broadband service. Residents living in those areas of the county are encouraged to register for the planned expansion; however, registration is not required.

Those who have not done so may determine whether their address is included in the VATI broadband project area and register at APB Fiber - All Points Broadband. More information about the project is available at loudoun.gov/broadbandexpansion.

Virginia Telecommunications Initiative Grant

The county government and APB, through a public-private partnership, applied for and received a $17.5 million grant from the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI), which will support construction of fiber-to-the-home in areas not served by wired providers. APB is responsible for notifying residents and businesses in advance of service availability.

VATI is administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. The state-funded program was created to "enhance the sustainability and growth of communities throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia by preparing those communities to build, utilize, and capitalize on telecommunications infrastructure."

The county submitted the grant application (PDF) on September 13, 2021. The application was one of 57 from localities across Virginia. Broadband expansion is a strategic initiative of the Board of Supervisors and the county provided $12.425 million of American Rescue Plan Act funding as the local funding match. Overall project costs will total approximately $61 million. Loudoun County serves as the grant administrator and APB is responsible for constructing the network and providing service to individual addresses.

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