Governor Warner Kicks Off Next Phase of Southside Broadband Network
Governor Warner Kicks Off Next Phase of Southside Broadband Network
Installs fiber to hook up network for super computing' as ground is broken in six new locations
Governor Mark R. Warner today helped install broadband fiber at the major connection hub for the Southside Regional Broadband Initiative, a 700-mile high-speed Internet network. The Appomattox Point of Presence (POP) will provide open-access interconnectivity with a major fiber backbone network called National Lambda Rail.
Additionally, the Governor announced construction began at six new sites across Southside, for the next phase of construction on the broadband network. Ground was broken in:
* Dinwiddie, moving southwest toward South Hill;
* Appomattox, moving west toward Lynchburg;
* Bedford, moving south toward Rocky Mount and Martinsville, and then east to Danville;
* South Hill, moving west toward South Boston;
* Gretna, moving south to Danville; and
* Stuart, moving east to Martinsville.
"The world is moving at Internet speed, and this broadband network is being built almost as fast," said Governor Warner. "We saved our tobacco funds for projects like this, as other states tapped into them during the last budget crisis. This re-investment allows our rural communities to aggressively pursue economic development initiatives focused on technology and innovation. Today's action means we will soon connect 700,000 Virginians and 19,000 businesses in five cities, 20 counties, and 56 industrial parks to high-speed Internet infrastructure - as well as multi-gigabit connections for next generation super computing."
Last year, Governor Warner helped fund connectivity for VORTEX and MAT-P, the Mid-Atlantic Terascale Partnership, to enhance Virginia's competitiveness with regional advanced high-speed networks. The Appomattox connection gives Southside communities the same access as Virginia's major university research entities. Large scale applications like accessing the super computer at Virginia Tech and providing multi-gigabit connections from Southside to places like the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center and major research organizations will give the region a major advantage in recruiting and serving high-tech firms and creating knowledge-based jobs.
Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative (MBC) is constructing the network, and has initial funding of $21 million from Virginia's Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, and $6 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, for a total of $27 million. If the individual fiber strands within this cable project were placed end to end, it would be enough fiber to circle the earth three times. Today, approximately 30 percent of the construction is complete.
"The exciting thing is that we're already seeing economic benefits, before we ever go live," said Tad Deriso, General Manager of the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative. "We've seen a business in Patrick County that employs 100 people looking to relocate due to the lack of affordable high-speed broadband access - but deciding now to stay and grow their workforce by an additional 80 jobs."
This project is having a positive net impact on the economy of the Commonwealth, by investing most of the funds back into Virginia companies. The prime contractor for this project is located in Southside Virginia, and MBC has gone to great strides to involve local companies wherever possible. MBC has also executed an agreement to purchase the major communication shelter buildings needed for this project from a Southwest Virginia company.
In April, Governor Warner announced a Memorandum of Understanding between VDOT and MBC to help facilitate the placement of fiber along VDOT rights of way. As part of the agreement, the Cooperative is giving VDOT free access to fiber strands for smart traffic technologies - such as roadway cameras, traffic sensors, traffic signal synchronizations and other systems that are used to help motorists reach their destinations more safely and quickly. Several companies who do business with VDOT are now considering locating service centers in Southside that would connect to this network.
The Tobacco Commission and Governor Warner recently "securitized" 25 percent -- or half of the portion dedicated to indemnify tobacco farmers and redevelop tobacco-dependent communities -- of the Commonwealth's share of payments to be received under the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement ("MSA") with the nation's tobacco companies. As a result of the sale, $389.8 million was deposited into an endowment to fund economic development projects throughout Southside and Southwest Virginia - with an additional $20 million put directly into the Southside broadband network. The Commission's funding will also provide redundant connectivity to existing wireless communication towers in the Southside region. This will give access for new wireless broadband service providers and improve cellular coverage.
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Press_Policy/Releases/2005/Sep05/0921.htm