Final Draft Plan Available for Comment

After many months of outreach and data collection, a final draft plan is ready for comment and input. The planning process has been valuable in building connections and having conversations on how to ensure everyone can make the most of the internet access that’s being built in our region. This plan offers actionable projects and approaches for the work that needs to be done.

Take a look and let us know if you agree or have ideas to add through the community forum. After January 20 we will compile comments for response and inclusion in the plan.

The four counties and City of Radford have identified how to increase broadband affordability and use 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 is an important goal in improving the region’s quality of life and economic vitality.

Broadband access can improve the quality of life for residents in education, health, community services and expand markets, talent pools, and efficiencies for businesses. The plan has confirmed affordability as one of the biggest challenges for residents and even businesses who need more than residential bandwidth and service. Implementing ideas for affordability and the other priorities noted in the plan will require strong partnerships and advocacy at multiple levels. The need for several kinds of training were recognized - training to foster users’ internet savvy and technology skills will be critical for many of our region’s residents. Workforce training and general education access online and in-person for students of all ages can open up employment opportunities remote and local even as the kinds of jobs available change.

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.