The broadband survey has been completed, and we appreciate your interest in the project.

Service providers are encouraged to participate in the planning process. Part of the work is to find out what incentives are needed to help private sector service providers expand their offerings in the region.

This effort is funded by the Department of Housing and Community Development's Rural Broadband Program. It is a regional effort that includes Saltville, Chilhowie, Marion, and Smyth County.

Who is sponsoring this work?

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development has sponsored the broadband planning effort. Joe Blevins is the DHCD representative.

Will the government begin selling Internet and phone service to us?

We rarely recommend that governments get directly involved in selling or reselling telecom services to residents and businesses. That is best left to the private sector.

Who is allowed to attend the planning meetings?

For more information about this effort, contact:

Andrew Cohill
cohill -at- designnine.com
or call Design Nine.
540-951-4400

Design Nine provides a wide range of community broadband planning and project management services.

Thanks to those folks that attended the first broadband planning meeting on Monday. We had an interesting discussion about the opportunities for service providers, and talked at some length about some of the new and emerging technologies, including advances in wireless and the now very affordable fiber to the home and fiber to the business opportunities.