A special meeting of the Broadband Task Force has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 6 at 8:30 a.m. in the Williams Mullen conference room on the 17^th floor of the Armada Hoffler building at Town Center when we will develop a draft statement of position for Vision, to be voted on by the Board of Directors and communicated to city council by email and in testimony at their November 12 meeting. The meeting is open to all Vision members and I encourage all those who have particular interest or expertise in the issue area to attend.

As was communicated to the task force and Executive Committee members in an October 17 email, Councilman John Moss has raised numerous concerns about the Resolution and Comprehensive Agreement for Formation of a Wireless Service Authority.  For a copy of his comments and mark up of the original draft agreement, please contact the Vision office.  Attached for your reference are the comments received from Vision members following the 10/17 email and an article highlighting the benefits a similar authority has brought to the Roanoke Valley.

Board comments on Broadband Authority (edited) Oct 2019

Smith_ Connections up prices down_ Broadband authority delivers RVBA

Virginia Beach City Council will formally vote on the Agreement at their Tuesday, November 12 formal session.  The Resolution and Agreement must be approved by all five Southside cities so they can receive authorization from the SCC to create this regional broadband network.  Norfolk approved the agreement yesterday without opposition.  Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Suffolk are expected to do likewise this week or next.

This is a critical juncture for moving the proposed regional broadband network forward and for furthering efforts to capitalize the unique opportunities the sub-sea fiber cables can bring to the city and the region.

Please mark your calendar and help us craft a position of support for adoption by the Vision Board.