What is Digital Opportunity about?

With the region close to building out universal coverage for broadband, the time has come to think about how we can make the most of that availability.

Some key issues being identified are how to make it affordable, getting everyone internet savvy enough to find what they need and do what they want to do, but stay safe and protect their privacy while they’re online.

Through this planning process, the four counties and City of Radford will be identifying how to increase broadband access and adoption in the New River Valley. As broadband availability in the region grows and more homes and community centers have internet service, making the most of that access will become an important goal in improving the region’s quality of life and economic vitality. This plan will help build the roadmap for meeting that goal.

With funding from the Department of Housing and Community Development’s Virginia Affordability and Adoption Planning Grant, a plan that identifies existing assets, outstanding needs, and implementation strategies to address those identified needs will be developed in support of future grant applications and investment opportunities.

We know that broadband access can improve the quality of life for residents in education, health, community services, and expand markets, talent pools, and efficiencies for businesses. But how and what’s needed is best identified by community members and organizations that serve them. Our community of residents and businesses will be invited to provide their input and ideas through stakeholder meetings and online engagement channels to share what they need and how they need it to better access broadband and its opportunities.