Legislative Update: August 7, 2006
As I talk to folks throughout the 99th district I hear a very common question – “Rob what can be done to get high speed or broadband internet access to our area?” County officials throughout the 99th district are working diligently to push high-speed and broadband internet providers to offer services in their counties. Many of these providers are using microwave transmission in addition to the traditional wired internet through phone and cable television lines. These efforts have been moving along well but they must have a backbone system to work from to provide access to all citizens in the 99th district.
During this past General Assembly there was considerable discussion about providing the same opportunity to accelerate high-speed and broadband access for the Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula and Eastern Shore as had been provided for Southwest Virginia. That opportunity was to provide state funding for the preliminary engineering and right of way acquisition for extending the broadband “backbone” into these areas. I had the opportunity to work with the Delegates Harvey Morgan and Lynwood Lewis and others representing interest from their districts to fight to maintain funding for this project.
In the recently adopted budget there was $1.4 million in 2007 fiscal year for preliminary engineering and right of way acquisition for extending broadband "backbone" to the Eastern Shore, Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula.
Another $1.0 million was provided to support community and regional planning efforts for identifying "last mile" strategies for the deployment of broadband in communities. These funds will be used to identify and aggregate demand and document the most appropriate technology to deliver broadband service to the end user.
Additionally, I introduced House Bill 400 that proposed to add a provision in the Governor's Development Opportunity Fund to allow grants or loans for the purpose of installing, extending, or increasing the capacity of high-speed or broadband internet access for new businesses locating in rural areas. This bill passed and also requires that the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority review and evaluate existing industrial sites and infrastructure that will provide broadband or high-speed internet access to rural and underserved areas of the Commonwealth.
So in this session of the General Assembly we provided money to plan the provision of high-speed and broadband internet access to all citizens in the 99th district and to leverage existing dollars to provide this access to businesses that look to locate in our region. This effort will allow high-speed and broadband internet providers to more quickly and efficiently build their networks in our region.
If you would like further information on this subject, or if I can be of assistance in other ways please feel free to contact my district office; by phone, 804-493-0508, or email, robwittman@verizon.net. Additional information on legislation that I introduced this year is available on my website, www.delegatewittman.com, within the legislation section.
During this past General Assembly there was considerable discussion about providing the same opportunity to accelerate high-speed and broadband access for the Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula and Eastern Shore as had been provided for Southwest Virginia. That opportunity was to provide state funding for the preliminary engineering and right of way acquisition for extending the broadband “backbone” into these areas. I had the opportunity to work with the Delegates Harvey Morgan and Lynwood Lewis and others representing interest from their districts to fight to maintain funding for this project.
In the recently adopted budget there was $1.4 million in 2007 fiscal year for preliminary engineering and right of way acquisition for extending broadband "backbone" to the Eastern Shore, Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula.
Another $1.0 million was provided to support community and regional planning efforts for identifying "last mile" strategies for the deployment of broadband in communities. These funds will be used to identify and aggregate demand and document the most appropriate technology to deliver broadband service to the end user.
Additionally, I introduced House Bill 400 that proposed to add a provision in the Governor's Development Opportunity Fund to allow grants or loans for the purpose of installing, extending, or increasing the capacity of high-speed or broadband internet access for new businesses locating in rural areas. This bill passed and also requires that the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority review and evaluate existing industrial sites and infrastructure that will provide broadband or high-speed internet access to rural and underserved areas of the Commonwealth.
So in this session of the General Assembly we provided money to plan the provision of high-speed and broadband internet access to all citizens in the 99th district and to leverage existing dollars to provide this access to businesses that look to locate in our region. This effort will allow high-speed and broadband internet providers to more quickly and efficiently build their networks in our region.
If you would like further information on this subject, or if I can be of assistance in other ways please feel free to contact my district office; by phone, 804-493-0508, or email, robwittman@verizon.net. Additional information on legislation that I introduced this year is available on my website, www.delegatewittman.com, within the legislation section.
posted by Blake Hite at 7:01 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home