DRAFT UTILITY LEVERAGE PROGRAM GUIDELINES
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has released proposed updates to Utility Leverage Program Guidelines for a 15 day public comment. The public comment period will open on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021 and close on Friday, October 15, 2021. All written comments must be submitted to broadband@dhcd.virginia.gov by the deadline.
DHCD will host an Input Session to discuss the proposed updates to Utility Leverage Program guidelines on Oct. 12, 2021. Representatives from units of local government, internet service providers and other interested parties are encouraged to participate. To register for this input session, click the link below. Registration for the input session closes Oct. 7, 2021.
DHCD will release the Updated Utility Leverage Program Guidelines on Oct. 29, 2021. The guidelines will be posted on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall in accordance with relevant procedures for Guidance Documents. All petitions received prior to Oct. 29, 2021 will be reviewed in accordance with current program guidelines.
UTILITY LEVERAGE PROGRAM GUIDELINES
Pursuant to “§56-585.1:9” of the Code of Virginia, petitioners may submit proposed project areas to the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to be designated as unserved by broadband. DHCD has released the initial guidelines for unserved certification. To access the guidelines, please click the link below.
OPEN PETITIONS FOR UNSERVED CERTIFICATIONS
The petitions for proposed project areas below are currently open for review by internet service providers. Challenges to petitions will not be considered if challenge materials are incomplete. See the Unserved Certification Guidelines above for more details regarding the requirements of challenges. Challenge information must be emailed to broadband@dhcd.virginia.gov by the deadline below for consideration.
| Locality | Date of Petition Posting | Deadline for Challenges | Final Notification Deadline* | Link to Petition Letter | Link to Petition Shapefiles on Open Data Portal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta | July 22, 2021 | Sept. 2, 2021 | Oct. 18, 2021 | Petition Letter | Petition Shapefiles |
| Bland, Montgomery and Pulaski | Aug. 6, 2021 | Sept. 20, 2021 | Nov. 3, 2021 | Petition Letter | Petition Shapefiles |
| Caroline | July 28, 2021 | Sept. 9, 2021 | Oct. 22, 2021 | Petition Letter | Petition Shapefiles |
| Chesterfield | July 28, 2021 | Sept. 9, 2021 | Oct. 22, 2021 | Petition Letter | Petition Shapefiles |
| Clarke | July 28, 2021 | Sept. 9, 2021 | Oct. 22, 2021 | Petition Letter | Petition Shapefiles |
| Culpeper | July 22, 2021 | Sept. 2, 2021 | Oct. 18, 2021 | Petition Letter | Petition Shapefiles |
| Essex | July 28, 2021 | Sept. 9, 2021 | Oct. 22, 2021 | Petition Letter | Petition Shapefiles |
| Fauquier | July 28, 2021 | Sept. 9, 2021 | Oct. 22, 2021 | Petition Letter | Petition Shapefiles |
| Frederick | July 22, 2021 | Sept. 2, 2021 | Oct. 18, 2021 | Petition Letter | Petition Shapefiles |
| Hanover | July 22, 2021 | Sept. 2, 2021 | Oct. 18, 2021 | Petition Letter | Petition Shapefiles |
| Henry | July 22, 2021 | Sept. 2, 2021 | Oct. 18, 2021 | Petition Letter | Petition Shapefiles |
| King William | July 22, 2021 | Sept. 2, 2021 | Oct. 18, 2021 | Petition Letter | Petition Shapefiles |
| Loudoun | July 22, 2021 | Sept. 2, 2021 | Oct. 18, 2021 | Petition Letter | Petition Shapefiles |
| Middlesex | July 22, 2021 | Sept. 2, 2021 | Oct. 18, 2021 | Petition Letter | Petition Shapefiles |
| Page | July 22, 2021 | Sept. 2, 2021 | Oct. 18, 2021 | Petition Letter | Petition Shapefiles |
| Rappahannock | July 22, 2021 | Sept. 2, 2021 | Oct. 18, 2021 | Petition Letter | Petition Shapefiles |
| Rockingham | July 22, 2021 | Sept. 2, 2021 | Oct. 18, 2021 | Petition Letter | Petition Shapefiles |
| Shenandoah | July 22, 2021 | Sept. 2, 2021 | Oct. 18, 2021 | Petition Letter | Petition Shapefiles |
| Spotsylvania | July 22, 2021 | Sept. 2, 2021 | Oct. 18, 2021 | Petition Letter | Petition Shapefiles |
| Stafford | July 28, 2021 | Sept. 9, 2021 | Oct. 22, 2021 | Petition Letter | Petition Shapefiles |
| Warren | July 22, 2021 | Sept. 2, 2021 | Oct. 18, 2021 | Petition Letter | Petition Shapefiles |
*DHCD may extend the validation period by thirty (30) days and will provide notice to the petitioner and challenger(s) if any additional review time is needed or if current petition volume necessitates extension.
