Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI)
Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) supports communities and internet service providers with broadband construction and infrastructure work to connect unserved Virginia locations and restore service.
Funder: Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
Due Dates: April 7, 2027 (AEU applications open) | July 7, 2027 (AEU review #1) | October 6, 2027 (AEU review #2) | October 7, 2027 (Deployment and AEU applications close)
Funding Amounts: Approximately $25 million available; deployment funding covers up to 80% of project costs
Summary: VATI funds broadband deployment to unserved Virginia locations and specific infrastructure improvements, relocations, and disaster restoration.
Key Information: Deployment generally requires a government applicant and ISP co-applicant; only qualifying ISPs may apply for AEU projects.
Description
The Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI), administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development’s Office of Broadband, supports last-mile broadband construction in unserved areas of the Commonwealth. It offsets construction costs to help communities build, use, and benefit from telecommunications infrastructure, supporting community sustainability, economic competitiveness, education, and access to health care.
The redesigned program emphasizes smaller, targeted projects connecting overlooked or newly constructed homes, businesses, and community anchors. Alongside deployment, additional eligible use (AEU) funding supports unexpected make-ready costs, cost-effective undergrounding, government-mandated relocation, and restoration of infrastructure damaged in a major disaster. Deployment receives funding priority, with VATI coordinated alongside the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.
