Albemarle Broadband Authority honors Mike Culp, agrees to review BEAD support requests and appoints new administrative officer

Michael J. Culp, director of the Broadband Accessibility and Affordability Office for Albemarle County, was honored by the Albemarle Broadband Authority on a December 2024 meeting where the authority also voted to accept delegated responsibility to issue letters of support for federal/state broadband applications and appointed Eva Fuentes as the authority’s chief administrative officer.

The authority adopted a commemorative resolution recognizing Culp’s decade of work to expand broadband in Albemarle County. Chair of the Albemarle Broadband Authority moved the resolution and the board approved it by standing and applause. Culp thanked colleagues and partners, saying, “It’s been a crazy 4 or 5 years,” and noting, “my own house still doesn’t have it,” as he credited many people for the work.

The resolution text presented to the authority cited Culp’s service on the board and as chief administrator, his role directing the Broadband Accessibility and Affordability Office since its inception, and his seat on Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Broadband Advisory Council. The proclamation states that the authority “hereby proclaims and designates Mike Culp as the man who brought broadband to Albemarle,” and authorized procurement of a plaque to recognize his service.

Why it matters: Authority members said ensuring an orderly handoff and clarifying oversight responsibilities is timely because multiple state and federal programs are entering active application phases. Staff briefed the board on the federal/state BEAD/BEED application window, a JLARC review of statewide broadband programs, project closeouts and ongoing construction, and local digital equity planning.

BEAD/BEED…