Broadband Equity in Focus as VIBO Launches Public Challenge Portal

The V.I. Broadband Office (VIBO), a division of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), has launched the initial phase of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) grant Challenge Portal. This portal, open from December 1 through December 30, 2024, invites community participation to refine the list of underserved Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs) identified in VIBO’s Initial Proposal Volume II. CAIs on this list are considered underserved if they lack download speeds of at least 100 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 20 Mbps. These institutions include schools, community centers, hospitals, public housing facilities, and other entities critical to serving the Virgin Islands community. The portal can be accessed at vibo.vi.gov, allowing nonprofit organizations, local governments, and broadband providers to provide feedback and submit challenges. VIBO has stressed the importance of community involvement in this process. “We encourage residents to participate ...