• Background
• Members
• Findings

• Letter from the Co-chairs
• Report to the Governor
• Re-cap of Activities
• Mapping
• Community Broadband Tool-kit
• Resource Documents
  

Broadband Activities

Roundtable Activities
Since its inception in September 2007 (see press release and membership list), the Broadband Roundtable members have traversed the Commonwealth meeting with local and regional leaders, collecting information about ongoing/emerging broadband activities and documenting community needs and barriers to the deployment process.

Roundtable meetings were held across the Commonwealth – Chantilly, Eastern Shore, Richmond, Abingdon, South Boston, and Appomattox.   At each meeting, members were briefed on broadband activities in the area and received input from local leaders and private citizens on the deployment challenges and opportunities that remain.

Roundtable members meet with Southwest Virginia leaders in Abingdon, VA

During these sessions it became abundantly clear that community (local and regional) continue to search for assistance with making informed decisions regarding broadband technologies, funding and legal options, and sustainability.  To answer this need, members of the broadband roundtable determined that the Commonwealth would be best served by the creation of an online “toolkit” for community-led broadband initiatives to de-mystify the broadband decision making and deployment process.   Drawing upon the strengths of its members, the group has produced an online, interactive toolkit and resources that address not only technology and legal issues,  but also assists in the identification of broadband funding sources and often overlooked pockets of “government influenced’ funding that can be leveraged to reduce the community capital outlay.   See Community Tool-kit.

In addition to developing an online toolkit to assist communities with broadband planning and deployment initiatives, the roundtable formed work groups to focus on specific elements of the broadband equation – measurement (adoption and availability) technology, applications, business models, and outreach.  The charge to each group was to examine the challenges and opportunities associated with the broadband planning and deployment process as it related to their individual focus area and to develop creative resources, strategies, projects, and/or policy intitiaves that, if brought to fruition, would ease the economic and/or human capital requirements of a broadband deployment.

During the course of the year, the workgroups met independently, visited sites throughout the Commonwealth, contributed input based on their own experiences and expertise, and collaborated with other subject matter (and experiential) experts to develop the work products.  The result is an impressive  compendium of topic-specific resources, initiatives, and recommendations that will provide the basis for future broadband initiatives in the Commonwealth.

Broadband Roundtable Meeting Re-cap

• June 5, 2008, Commonwealth Broadband Roundtable, Regional Meeting, 2pm - 4pm, Appomattox Community Center, 220 Community Lane, Appomattox VA 24522

• Broadband Roundtable Meeting and Bill Signing, East Reading Room (1st floor, Patrick Henry Building, 1111 E. Broad Street, Richmond) May 2, 2008, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm (Agenda)

• Broadband Roundtable Regional Meeting, Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center (Directions), Abingdon (November 29, 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM). Secretary Chopra presided over the meeting in Abingdon and Former Governor Warner will participated by video conference from Bath County Hospital. (Agenda) Secretary Chopra's Presentation
  
  
• Broadband Roundtable Hosts Regional Meeting in Cape Charles' Bay Creek Resort, Cabana Room (above the restaurant AQUA, 3rd building on the right) Agenda, Presentations: Secretary Chopra, Virginia Resources Authority, Department of Housing and Community Development. MBC - Fiber Design, Community Telecom Plans, Wallops Research Park, and Keith Hill, Icon Broadband Technologies
  
  
• Members of the Broadband Roundtable's Business Model's Committee and the JCOTS Wireless Broadband Advisory Committee met October 23, 2007. For more information, visit the JCOTS website.
  
  
• Roundtable hosts regional meeting in South Boston (Sept 21) (press release) (agenda)
  
  
• Roundtable hosts first regional meeting at COVITS 2007 (download a copy of the presentation)
  
  
• Broadband to be featured topics at COVITS 2007
  
  
• Governor Kaine Announces Formation of Broadband Roundtable