The West Piedmont Planning District Commission (WPPDC) has executed an agreement with internet service provider (ISP) ZiTEL to complete the West Broadband Project, which covers Franklin, Henry, and Patrick counties. RiverStreet Networks (RSN) was the original partnering internet service provider; however, they were unable to complete the project due to their inability to secure the remaining capital.
This transition to a new internet service provider will move the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) forward for the West Broadband Project, for which WPPDC received funds in late 2021 to administer the grant. VATI is funded by the federal and state governments and is administered in Virginia by the Department of Housing and Community Development. The purpose of VATI is to extend broadband (high-speed internet) service to currently unserved areas.
ZiTEL, a Moneta-based ISP, will assume the remaining scope and deliverables for the West Broadband Project in Franklin, Henry, and Patrick counties. WPPDC, along with its partners, remains fully committed to bridging the region’s digital divide, and ZiTEL is well positioned to complete the project, as it currently serves customers in the City of Danville, as well as in Bedford and Franklin Counties.
“We have full confidence in ZiTEL’s ability to move the West Broadband Project forward and deliver high-quality internet access to our communities,” stated WPPDC Executive Director Michael Armbrister. “We sincerely appreciate the patience and understanding shown by our local partners and residents as we resolved the challenges with this project. With ZiTEL, we are poised to fulfill our mission of expanding broadband access across the region.”
The West Broadband Project is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2027 with a total of 14,161 fiber internet connections.