Albemarle authority backs Comcast application, withholds support from Amazon Kuiper

The Albemarle County Broadband Authority voted to support Comcast Xfinity’s application for state broadband funding and to withhold support for Amazon’s Kuiper satellite proposal, saying Comcast has local capacity while Kuiper lacks service history.

The decision, made by motion and second during the authority’s meeting, followed staff updates on lingering 2021 closeout work with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), progress on 2022 projects, and continuing uncertainty about federal program timelines after new executive orders and pending federal appointments.

Authority staff member (Speaker 4) summarized the outstanding 2021 closeout issues, saying, “The initial closeout report was rejected,” and that staff convened parties to revise the report to match what DHCD expected in total expenditures. The staff member said the authority will wait to submit the closeout until reimbursement-request documentation is ready so the final financial review will reflect complete records.

Why it matters: the authority said there remain about 327 eligible unserved locations in Albemarle County that local planners want to reach quickly. Those locations are part of the county’s eligibility reconciliation with DHCD and are at issue in current applications for state broadband funds; letters of local support give applicants scoring points in DHCD’s grant review.

What the authority discussed and decided - Staff reported that DHCD revised its…