While LBA was just a thought in the back of our minds, you were already active in the effort to bring broadband to the underserved in Loudoun County. Thanks to the True Broadband for Western Loudoun group for promoting the effort and to all of you that contacted your county supervisor and spoke at the September 15 and the November 17 Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Business Meetings. Because of your efforts, BMI#16 received serious attention by county staff.
While the actions passed during the November 17 meeting are not as aggressive as we might desire, we are optimistic that we will see progress, and working together we will bring affordable and reliable broadband Internet access to all of Loudoun.
Below is the action item report for the motion brought by Supervisor Kershner in response to the staff report on BMI#16.
Supervisor Kershner moved that the Board of Supervisors direct staff to institute the following actions to affect the delivery and expansion of broadband service in identified underserved areas of Loudoun County:
- Waive pre-application (PRAP) requirements in order to reduce development application timelines for telecommunications facilities;
- Direct staff to bring forward amendments to the Land Development Applications Fee Schedule to eliminate the Special Exception (SPEX) fees and establish a uniform $6,990 Commission Permit (CMPT) fee for all new telecommunications uses in identified underserved areas as shown on Attachment 2 of the November 17, 2020 item;
- Establish a Telecommunications Application Ombudsman program;
- Institute Telecommunications Application Assistance Meetings as a standard part of the applications process for a telecommunications use;
- Execute a budget adjustment to move $191,000 from the IT Contingency project in the Capital Projects fund to the Remote Site Connectivity Project in the Capital Projects Fund for purposes of beginning the Request for Proposal Process to obtain a vendor to build additional fiber connections to the five remaining county facilities identified in the November 17, 2020 item;
- Provide the Board with quarterly updates beginning in January 2021 regarding progress on broadband initiatives identified in the November 17, 2020 item to include, but not limited to the following:
a) Segra’s efforts to attract and contract with last mile providers;
b) Applicability of HB2141 to Loudoun County
c) Funding sources available to support broadband initiatives including grant opportunities; and
d) Partnership opportunities with power utilities for broadband expansion.
(Seconded by Supervisor Buffington.)
Supervisor Kershner accepted Vice Chair Saines’ Friendly Amendment that the words “and broadband relief funds” be added to 6c.
The motion, as amended, passed 8-0-1: Supervisor Letourneau absent for the vote.
The full presentation can be viewed via the following link:
https://loudoun.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=77&clip_id=6463&meta_id=18 5601