The Eastern Shore of Virginia Broadband Authority has been formed to bring improved broadband and telecommunications services to the businesses and residents of the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The Authority is a public not for profit company created under the Virginia Wireless Service Authorities Act, Chapter 54.1 §15.2-543.1.1 et seq. and by a resolution of the Counties of Northampton and Accomack.

The Eastern Shore of Virginia Broadband Initiative is made up of three main projects:
1. The Southern Portion of the fiber backbone
2. The Northern Portion of the fiber backbone
3. The Last Mile (Community Networks)

The backbone will be an open access network allowing public companies to provide services to the businesses and residents of the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

The main goal of the first project within the initiative is to plan, design and construct a fiber backbone from Norfolk in the South to Cape Charles across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. This project is funded by NASA and will be installed by Mid Atlantic Broadband.

The second major project is to plan, design and construct the Northern Portion of the fiber backbone from Cape Charles to Wallops connecting with Maryland Broadband in the North. The backbone will follow the Railway ROW in this project. The Northern Portion project is funded by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA).

The third project is known as "The Last Mile". This project is the creation of the Community networks will be done in several phases and will be the construction of the access and distribution networks from the backbone to the Communities, Government, Hospital, Schools, Businesses and Residences. Priority will be given to our largest customers such as our schools, hospitals and government.

It is a regional and local effort that includes both Northampton and Accomack County and all the communities of the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The counties are providing project funding for the planning process of the Initiative.

The Eastern Shore of Broadband Authority Board is comprised of five (5) members from Accomack and Northampton Counties. The current Board members are:

Steven Miner, Chair (chair@esvabroadband.net)
Mike Zodun, Vice Chair
Joseph Caffrey, Treasurer
Katie Nunez
Dimitri Plionis

The project manager for the Broadband Initiative is Cheryl Tyson, MBA PMP. Cheryl can be contacted at ctyson@esvabroadband.net. General inquiries can be sent to info@esvabroadband.net.

The Accomack Northampton Planning District Commission is also providing project support for the initiative. Please visit there website for more detailed information about the Broadband Initiative including the Community Planning Study, Final Report Maps, a Fiber Speed Demonstration and Minutes at www.a-npdc.org/broadband.html.

We would like to thank all of our funding partners for their support.
Special thanks to Senator Webb, Senator Warner, Senator Northam and Delegate Lewis for championing this project.

We would also like to thank the residents and businesses on the Eastern Shore of Virginia for their support of this initiative.

Mailing Address: Post Office Box 449, Wachapreague, Virginia 23480
Physical Address: 36272 Lecato Road, Unit #21E, Belle Haven, Virginia 23306