Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI)
Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) supports Virginia communities and internet service providers by funding last-mile broadband and related infrastructure work to connect unserved areas and maintain service.
Funder: Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
Due Dates: Rolling (deployment, under draft 2026 guidelines) | Rolling (additional eligible uses, beginning six months after deployment applications start)
Funding Amounts: Approximately $25 million available in the proposed 2026 round; deployment projects may receive up to 80% of project costs
Summary: VATI supports last-mile broadband access in unserved Virginia areas and proposed infrastructure-related uses that help maintain connectivity.
Key Information: Deployment applications generally require a government applicant and private ISP co-applicant; additional eligible use applications are submitted by qualifying ISPs.
Description
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), through its Office of Broadband, administers VATI to extend last-mile broadband service to unserved areas of Virginia. The program helps communities build and benefit from telecommunications infrastructure, with the goal of sustaining universal connectivity and strengthening local economic opportunity. Its proposed 2026 redesign emphasizes smaller, targeted, ready-to-construct deployment projects that can connect remaining unserved homes, businesses and community anchors.
The draft 2026 guidelines also propose a separate process for additional eligible use (AEU) projects: unexpected make-ready work, including pole replacements and mid-span installations; railroad crossings; cost-effective undergrounding; government-mandated relocation; and restoration of infrastructure damaged in a major disaster. Deployment would take priority for funding.
