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- Roanoke County Rural Broadband Initiative
Roanoke County is actively working to improve broadband connectivity throughout the community, as part of the “Connect Roanoke County to the World” Strategic Initiative outlined in the County’s 2016 Community Strategic Plan.
Roanoke County’s public and private investments in rural broadband include:
Investments in Rural Broadband* | Amount |
---|---|
VATI Grant Funding | $3,777,457 |
Roanoke County Appropriations and In-Kind Services | 2,050,409 |
Vendor Contributions | 2,707,655 |
Total | $8,535,521 |
* Total Investments as of December 13, 2021. |
These investments will help provide high-speed Internet access to approximately 404 residents and 26 businesses across the County with possibilities for future expansion. While it may not seem like it, your broadband project has been “in work” for a while now. The "unseen" parts of these projects are the most time-consuming. Planning a network expansion, the equipment needed to support it, and where that equipment will be placed is no small task. Many times, there is a need to obtain approvals for property access and pole attachments. This is all critical to ensure that the services promised will be delivered to your expectations.
See the tabs below for more information on each step of Roanoke County's Broadband Initiative, and view the Broadband Initiative Map at the bottom of the page.
Broadband Availability Study
In 2019, Roanoke County began its Broadband Availability Study to help “Connect Roanoke County to the World,” to improve communications and data technology in both the business sector and residential settings.
Roanoke County launched its High-Speed Internet Survey with the goal of identifying areas that are currently served, under-served, or not served by high-speed Internet as defined by the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) minimum broadband standards of 25Mbps download speed and 3Mbps upload speed as defined in 2015.
The survey results showed that more than 32% of Roanoke County households in the targeted areas were considered unserved or under-served by the FCC's minimum standards.
Completed Projects
Partnerships with both Cox Communications and B2X Online
- Bring high-speed Internet services to several areas within the Catawba, Windsor Hills, Cave Spring, and Vinton magisterial districts as identified in the 2019 High-Speed Internet Survey.
- These projects have brought high-speed Internet access to 112 residents and some businesses.
Current Projects
Partnership with Cox Communications
Bring high-speed internet services to citizens in the Bent Mountain, Bradshaw Road, Starlight Lane, and Cove Hollow areas of the County.
- By November of 2022, this project will make services available to approximately 317 addresses and 26 businesses. Many addresses will receive service much sooner.
- For more specific information on addresses included and project schedules, contact Communications and Information Technology Director Bill Hunter.
Partnership with Comcast
Bring high-speed Internet services to citizens along Timberview, Still Branch, and Paint Bank roads.
Future Projects
FY2022 VATI Grant Application
On December 13. 2021, Roanoke County received notification that four projects have received a total of $3.7 million in grant funding from the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI). The County partnered with internet service providers to leverage more than $7.7 million to expand broadband connectivity throughout the County.
Below are the Roanoke County projects that received grants.
- Roanoke County and Craig Botetourt Electric Cooperative will leverage $1,646,138.00 to build fiber broadband to 495 unserved locations and achieve universal coverage in Roanoke County when combined with other projects. $1,581,584.00 of VATI grant funding was awarded for this project.
- Roanoke County and Cox Communications will leverage $1,597,927.00 to build fiber broadband to 396 unserved locations and achieve universal coverage in Roanoke County when combined with other projects. $1,535,264.00 of VATI grant funding was awarded for this project.
- Roanoke County and Shentel will leverage $510,000.00 to build fiber broadband to 213 unserved locations and achieve universal coverage in Roanoke County when combined with other projects. $490,000.00 of VATI grant funding was awarded for this project.
- Roanoke County and B2X Online will leverage $177,572.00 to build a wireless broadband network to connect 290 locations in Roanoke County when combined with other projects. $170,609.00 of VATI grant funding was awarded for this project.
In addition, Franklin County received a grant to fund a joint regional broadband project with Roanoke County that will connect 23 households in the adjacent border communities of Windy Gap Mountain Village (Franklin County) and Beldon Woods Estates (Roanoke County). For more information, see our VATI Grant Award Announcement news release.
American Rescue Plan Act
Explore funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to support its Broadband Initiative.
Internet Service Providers
The following Internet providers have partnered with the County of Roanoke on these projects, both completed and in progress.
The County of Roanoke is continually seeking partnerships with all interested providers to continue addressing broadband availability for our citizens.
Broadband Initiative Map
Broadband Comments
Please submit comments about your broadband experience to Roanoke County through the link to our online form. >> Broadband Comment Form
You may also call Roanoke County's Department of Communications and Information Technology at (540) 777-8552.