The New River Valley Planning District Commission Telecommunications Committee is set to begin the grant process to bring fiber and greater broadband access to its residents. The initial grant application, $400,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission will go out next week, is the beginning of phase one in the three phase project. Additional funding will be sought from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the Commonwealth of Virgina, and private investors. The first phase of the planned 283-mile network in Western Virgina would see 36 miles of fiber from the Wythe County line through Pulaski County.

Over 74,000 shares in the project will be sold to towns and counties in Virginia's First Authority. The shares allow the holder to be part of the process in the participation committee. Virgina law allows multiple localities to invest in and derive revenue from economic development projects. One source of revenue will be leasing the fiber to existing broadband providers. The justification for governmental investment in such a system, according to Dave Rundgren, the commission's executive director, is to help create an infrastructure to help businesses do business. "This is like the interstate highway. It's not like your driveway," he said.