The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) announced the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) grant for FY19. The primary objective of VATI is to provide financial assistance to supplement construction costs by private sector broadband service providers, in partnership with local units of government, to extend service to areas that presently are unserved by any broadband provider.
The goal is to enhance sustainability and competitive advantages of communities throughout the Commonwealth by preparing those communities to build, utilize, and capitalize on telecommunications infrastructure. Consistent with the enabling legislation, DHCD will award the $4 million FY 2019 appropriation to eligible applicants to provide last-mile services to unserved areas of the State.