{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/56-585.1_9.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/56-585.1_9.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/56-585.1_9.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/56-585.1_9.html"}],"law_id":78790,"edition_id":1,"section_id":78790,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-585.1:9","catch_line":"Provision of broadband capacity to unserved areas of the Commonwealth","history":"2019, c. 619; 2020, c. 752; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 356, 357, 369, 370.","full_text":"A\n\nEach Phase I Utility and each Phase II Utility, as such terms are defined in subdivision A 1 of § 56-585.1, may submit one or more petitions to provide or make available broadband capacity to Internet service providers in areas of the Commonwealth unserved by broadband. The provision of such broadband capacity to Internet service providers in areas of the Commonwealth unserved by broadband pursuant to this section is in the public interest.B\n\nThe costs of providing broadband capacity pursuant to any such petition, net of revenue generated therefrom, shall be eligible for recovery from customers as an electric grid transformation project pursuant to clause (vi) of subdivision A 6 of § 56-585.1 filed on or after July 1, 2021, as a non-bypassable charge. Notwithstanding any provision of subdivision A 6 or 7 of § 56-585.1, the utility may file one or more petitions for approval of such a rate adjustment clause, on a stand-alone basis, seeking recovery of the costs of providing broadband capacity at any time on or after July 1, 2021, and the Commission shall issue its final order regarding such petition within six months following the date of filing.C\n\nNotwithstanding the provisions of § 13.1-620 or the articles of incorporation of an investor-owned utility, an investor-owned utility may, either directly or through an affiliate or subsidiary, pursuant to a petition that the Commissioner approves pursuant to this section, (i) own, manage, or control any broadband capacity equipment and electronics, including any plant, works, system, lines, facilities, or properties, or any part or parts thereof, together with all appurtenances thereto, used or useful in connection with the provision and extension of such broadband services; (ii) lease indefeasible rights of use in such broadband capacity equipment and electronics to Internet service providers in areas of the Commonwealth unserved by broadband pursuant to this section; and (iii) provide access points that are outside the utility’s energized zone to allow connection between the utility’s broadband capacity system and the Internet service provider’s system.D\n\nEach petition to provide broadband capacity pursuant to this section that an investor-owned utility submits to the Commission shall identify the Internet service provider to which the utility shall lease such capacity, together with the area to be served using such capacity. The Commission shall, after notice and opportunity for hearing, initiate proceedings to review each petition submitted. The Commission shall condition any approval of such petition on the requirement that construction shall commence within 18 months of such approval. If the utility fails to commence construction within such time period, the utility may resubmit the petition for conditional approval. The Commission shall also condition any approval of such petition on the requirement that the utility and its Internet service provider submit annual public reports on construction progress by the utility and delivery of broadband services by the Internet service provider until construction is completed. The Commission’s final order regarding any such petition shall be entered by the Commission no more than six months after the date of filing of such petition. An area shall be determined to be unserved by broadband if (i) the Department of Housing and Community Development has certified within the last 18 months that the designated area is unserved; (ii) the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative of the Department of Housing and Community Development has issued a grant or loan to construct a broadband service project within the last 18 months, and the grant or loan recipient is the Internet service provider to which the utility proposes to lease capacity; (iii) the federal government has issued a grant or loan or has provided support to construct a broadband service project in the designated area within the last 18 months, and the grant or loan recipient is the Internet service provider to which the utility proposes to lease capacity; or (iv) the Commission determines the area is unserved on the basis of other competent evidence. The determination of the Department of Housing and Community Development that an area is unserved shall be made following public notice of the proposed finding and an opportunity for third parties to challenge such finding, and such determination shall be presumed sufficient for the Commission to find the area to be unserved. The Commission may determine that an area is unserved on the basis of other competent evidence.E\n\nAn investor-owned utility shall be responsible for obtaining all necessary rights-of-way or other easements or real property rights to permit leasing of broadband capacity to Internet service providers. An Internet service provider shall be responsible for obtaining all necessary rights-of-way or other easements or real property rights from utility access point to permit the provision of broadband services to end-user customers.F\n\nAs used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Broadband” means Internet access at speeds equal to or greater than the adequate speed as determined by the broadband guidelines set out by the Department of Housing and Community Development for its Virginia Telecommunication Initiative from time to time.\n\t\t\t“Unserved by broadband” means a designated area in which less than 10 percent of residential and commercial units are capable of receiving broadband service, provided that the Department of Housing and Community Development for its Virginia Telecommunication Initiative may by guideline increase such percentage from time to time.G\n\nNo investor-owned utility nor any affiliate thereof may offer broadband or Internet service provider services to residential or commercial end-user customers in the Commonwealth pursuant to this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent an investor-owned utility or an affiliate thereof from providing transport of or capacity for broadband or Internet service in the Commonwealth as a wholesaler or intermediate vendor, provided that an unaffiliated third party is the provider of broadband or Internet services to the end-user customer.H\n\nThe provision and extension of broadband capacity by an incumbent electric utility to an area of the Commonwealth unserved by broadband pursuant to a petition that the Commission approves pursuant to this section, including any business activity related to the construction or leasing of broadband capacity facilities, shall be exempt from any rules and regulations that the Commission has promulgated or may promulgate governing functional separation of generation, retail transmission, and distribution of incumbent electric utilities. Investor-owned electric utilities may for the purposes of this section engage in such coordination between and among their various corporate divisions as necessary for the purposes of providing broadband capacity to an area of the Commonwealth unserved by broadband.I\n\nNotwithstanding the provisions of § 13.1-620 or the articles of incorporation of an investor-owned utility, an investor-owned utility may, either directly or through an affiliate or subsidiary, lease broadband-related assets or capacity to any third party. The revenues generated from such leases shall offset (i) the costs of the petition recovered through the rate adjustment clause described in subsection B or (ii) the utility’s electric cost of service.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":282273,"text":"Each Phase I Utility and each Phase II Utility, as such terms are defined in subdivision A 1 of § 56-585.1, may submit one or more petitions to provide or make available broadband capacity to Internet service providers in areas of the Commonwealth unserved by broadband. The provision of such broadband capacity to Internet service providers in areas of the Commonwealth unserved by broadband pursuant to this section is in the public interest.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":282274,"text":"The costs of providing broadband capacity pursuant to any such petition, net of revenue generated therefrom, shall be eligible for recovery from customers as an electric grid transformation project pursuant to clause (vi) of subdivision A 6 of § 56-585.1 filed on or after July 1, 2021, as a non-bypassable charge. Notwithstanding any provision of subdivision A 6 or 7 of § 56-585.1, the utility may file one or more petitions for approval of such a rate adjustment clause, on a stand-alone basis, seeking recovery of the costs of providing broadband capacity at any time on or after July 1, 2021, and the Commission shall issue its final order regarding such petition within six months following the date of filing.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":282275,"text":"Notwithstanding the provisions of § 13.1-620 or the articles of incorporation of an investor-owned utility, an investor-owned utility may, either directly or through an affiliate or subsidiary, pursuant to a petition that the Commissioner approves pursuant to this section, (i) own, manage, or control any broadband capacity equipment and electronics, including any plant, works, system, lines, facilities, or properties, or any part or parts thereof, together with all appurtenances thereto, used or useful in connection with the provision and extension of such broadband services; (ii) lease indefeasible rights of use in such broadband capacity equipment and electronics to Internet service providers in areas of the Commonwealth unserved by broadband pursuant to this section; and (iii) provide access points that are outside the utility’s energized zone to allow connection between the utility’s broadband capacity system and the Internet service provider’s system.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":282276,"text":"Each petition to provide broadband capacity pursuant to this section that an investor-owned utility submits to the Commission shall identify the Internet service provider to which the utility shall lease such capacity, together with the area to be served using such capacity. The Commission shall, after notice and opportunity for hearing, initiate proceedings to review each petition submitted. The Commission shall condition any approval of such petition on the requirement that construction shall commence within 18 months of such approval. If the utility fails to commence construction within such time period, the utility may resubmit the petition for conditional approval. The Commission shall also condition any approval of such petition on the requirement that the utility and its Internet service provider submit annual public reports on construction progress by the utility and delivery of broadband services by the Internet service provider until construction is completed. The Commission’s final order regarding any such petition shall be entered by the Commission no more than six months after the date of filing of such petition. An area shall be determined to be unserved by broadband if (i) the Department of Housing and Community Development has certified within the last 18 months that the designated area is unserved; (ii) the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative of the Department of Housing and Community Development has issued a grant or loan to construct a broadband service project within the last 18 months, and the grant or loan recipient is the Internet service provider to which the utility proposes to lease capacity; (iii) the federal government has issued a grant or loan or has provided support to construct a broadband service project in the designated area within the last 18 months, and the grant or loan recipient is the Internet service provider to which the utility proposes to lease capacity; or (iv) the Commission determines the area is unserved on the basis of other competent evidence. The determination of the Department of Housing and Community Development that an area is unserved shall be made following public notice of the proposed finding and an opportunity for third parties to challenge such finding, and such determination shall be presumed sufficient for the Commission to find the area to be unserved. The Commission may determine that an area is unserved on the basis of other competent evidence.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":282277,"text":"An investor-owned utility shall be responsible for obtaining all necessary rights-of-way or other easements or real property rights to permit leasing of broadband capacity to Internet service providers. An Internet service provider shall be responsible for obtaining all necessary rights-of-way or other easements or real property rights from utility access point to permit the provision of broadband services to end-user customers.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":282278,"text":"As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Broadband” means Internet access at speeds equal to or greater than the adequate speed as determined by the broadband guidelines set out by the Department of Housing and Community Development for its Virginia Telecommunication Initiative from time to time.\n\t\t\t“Unserved by broadband” means a designated area in which less than 10 percent of residential and commercial units are capable of receiving broadband service, provided that the Department of Housing and Community Development for its Virginia Telecommunication Initiative may by guideline increase such percentage from time to time.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"6":{"id":282279,"text":"No investor-owned utility nor any affiliate thereof may offer broadband or Internet service provider services to residential or commercial end-user customers in the Commonwealth pursuant to this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent an investor-owned utility or an affiliate thereof from providing transport of or capacity for broadband or Internet service in the Commonwealth as a wholesaler or intermediate vendor, provided that an unaffiliated third party is the provider of broadband or Internet services to the end-user customer.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F","next_prefix":"H"},"7":{"id":282280,"text":"The provision and extension of broadband capacity by an incumbent electric utility to an area of the Commonwealth unserved by broadband pursuant to a petition that the Commission approves pursuant to this section, including any business activity related to the construction or leasing of broadband capacity facilities, shall be exempt from any rules and regulations that the Commission has promulgated or may promulgate governing functional separation of generation, retail transmission, and distribution of incumbent electric utilities. Investor-owned electric utilities may for the purposes of this section engage in such coordination between and among their various corporate divisions as necessary for the purposes of providing broadband capacity to an area of the Commonwealth unserved by broadband.","type":"section","prefixes":["H"],"prefix":"H","entire_prefix":"H","prefix_anchor":"H","level":1,"prior_prefix":"G","next_prefix":"I"},"8":{"id":282281,"text":"Notwithstanding the provisions of § 13.1-620 or the articles of incorporation of an investor-owned utility, an investor-owned utility may, either directly or through an affiliate or subsidiary, lease broadband-related assets or capacity to any third party. The revenues generated from such leases shall offset (i) the costs of the petition recovered through the rate adjustment clause described in subsection B or (ii) the utility’s electric cost of service.","type":"section","prefixes":["I"],"prefix":"I","entire_prefix":"I","prefix_anchor":"I","level":1,"prior_prefix":"H"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13084,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act","identifier":"23","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12881,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:15","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:15","permalink":{"id":250597,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13084,"identifier":"23","token":"56\/23","url":"\/56\/23\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12881,"edition_id":1,"name":"Public Service Companies","identifier":"56","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":248473,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12881,"identifier":"56","token":"56","url":"\/56\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":62210,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-576","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/56-576\/","token":"56\/23\/56-576","metadata":false},{"id":79838,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-577","catch_line":"Schedule for transition to retail competition; Commission authority; exemptions; pilot programs","url":"\/56-577\/","token":"56\/23\/56-577","metadata":false},{"id":69790,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-577.1","catch_line":"Electric utilities; retail competition; pilot program","url":"\/56-577.1\/","token":"56\/23\/56-577.1","metadata":false},{"id":66769,"structure_id":13084,"section_number":"56-578","catch_line":"Nondiscriminatory access to transmission and distribution 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This law was first created in 2019. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 619<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2020, chapter 752<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":68113,"section_number":"15.2-2316.7","catch_line":"Negotiations; siting agreement","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2316.7\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":63023,"section_number":"13.1-620","catch_line":"Special kinds of business","order_by":null,"url":"\/13.1-620\/"},{"id":67687,"section_number":"56-585.1","catch_line":"Generation, distribution, and transmission rates after capped rates terminate or expire","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-585.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":250711,"object_type":"law","relational_id":78790,"identifier":"56-585.1:9","token":"56\/23\/56-585.1_9","url":"\/56-585.1_9\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-585.1_9\/","token":"56\/23\/56-585.1_9","dublin_core":{"Title":"Provision of broadband capacity to unserved areas of the Commonwealth","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-585.1:9","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Each Phase I Utility and each Phase II Utility, as such terms are defined in subdivision A 1 of § 56-585.1<\/a>, may submit one or more petitions<\/span> to provide or make available broadband capacity to Internet service providers in areas of the Commonwealth unserved by broadband<\/span>. The provision of such broadband capacity to Internet service providers in areas of the Commonwealth unserved by broadband<\/span> pursuant to this section is in the public interest<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The costs of providing broadband capacity pursuant to any such petition<\/span>, net of revenue generated therefrom, shall be eligible for recovery from customers as an electric grid transformation project pursuant to clause (vi) of subdivision A 6 of § 56-585.1<\/a> filed on or after July 1, 2021, as a non-bypassable charge. Notwithstanding any provision of subdivision A 6 or 7 of § 56-585.1<\/a>, the utility may file one or more petitions<\/span> for approval of such a rate<\/span> adjustment clause, on a stand-alone basis, seeking recovery of the costs of providing broadband capacity at any time on or after July 1, 2021, and the Commission<\/span> shall issue<\/span> its final order<\/span> regarding such petition<\/span> within six months following the date of filing. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Notwithstanding the provisions of § 13.1-620<\/a> or the articles of incorporation of an investor-owned utility, an investor-owned utility may, either directly or through an affiliate<\/span> or subsidiary, pursuant to a petition<\/span> that the Commissioner approves pursuant to this section, (i) own, manage, or control any broadband capacity equipment and electronics, including any plant, works, system, lines, facilities, or properties, or any part or parts thereof, together with all appurtenances thereto, used or useful in connection with the provision and extension of such broadband services; (ii) lease indefeasible rights of use in such broadband capacity equipment and electronics to Internet service providers in areas of the Commonwealth unserved by broadband<\/span> pursuant to this section; and (iii) provide access points that are outside the utility’s energized zone to allow connection between the utility’s broadband capacity system and the Internet service provider’s system. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Each petition<\/span> to provide broadband capacity pursuant to this section that an investor-owned utility submits to the Commission<\/span> shall identify the Internet service provider to which the utility shall lease such capacity, together with the area to be served using such capacity. The Commission<\/span> shall, after notice and opportunity for hearing<\/span>, initiate proceedings to review each petition<\/span> submitted. The Commission<\/span> shall condition any approval of such petition<\/span> on the requirement that construction shall commence within 18 months of such approval. If the utility fails to commence construction within such time period, the utility may resubmit the petition<\/span> for conditional approval. The Commission<\/span> shall also condition any approval of such petition<\/span> on the requirement that the utility and its Internet service provider submit annual public reports on construction progress by the utility and delivery of broadband services by the Internet service provider until construction is completed. The Commission<\/span>’s final order<\/span> regarding any such petition<\/span> shall be entered by the Commission<\/span> no more than six months after the date of filing of such petition<\/span>. An area shall be determined to be unserved by broadband<\/span> if (i) the Department of Housing and Community Development has certified within the last 18 months that the designated area is unserved; (ii) the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative of the Department of Housing and Community Development has issued a grant or loan to construct a broadband service project within the last 18 months, and the grant or loan recipient is the Internet service provider to which the utility proposes to lease capacity; (iii) the federal government has issued a grant or loan or has provided support to construct a broadband service project in the designated area within the last 18 months, and the grant or loan recipient is the Internet service provider to which the utility proposes to lease capacity; or (iv) the Commission<\/span> determines the area is unserved on the basis of other competent evidence<\/span>. The determination of the Department of Housing and Community Development that an area is unserved shall be made following public notice of the proposed finding<\/span> and an opportunity for third parties to challenge such finding<\/span>, and such determination shall be presumed sufficient for the Commission<\/span> to find the area to be unserved. The Commission<\/span> may determine that an area is unserved on the basis of other competent evidence<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> An investor-owned utility shall be responsible for obtaining all necessary rights-of-way or other easements or real property rights to permit leasing of broadband capacity to Internet service providers. An Internet service provider shall be responsible for obtaining all necessary rights-of-way or other easements or real property rights from utility access point to permit the provision of broadband services to end-user customers. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Broadband” means Internet access at speeds equal to or greater than the adequate speed as determined by the broadband guidelines set out by the Department of Housing and Community Development for its Virginia Telecommunication Initiative from time to time.\n\t\t\t“Unserved by broadband<\/span>” means a designated area in which less than 10 percent of residential and commercial units are capable of receiving broadband service, provided that the Department of Housing and Community Development for its Virginia Telecommunication Initiative may by guideline increase such percentage from time to time. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> No investor-owned utility nor any affiliate<\/span> thereof may offer broadband or Internet service provider services to residential or commercial end-user customers in the Commonwealth pursuant to this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent an investor-owned utility or an affiliate<\/span> thereof from providing transport of or capacity for broadband or Internet service in the Commonwealth as a wholesaler or intermediate vendor, provided that an unaffiliated third party<\/span> is the provider of broadband or Internet services to the end-user customer. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

H.<\/span> The provision and extension of broadband capacity by an incumbent electric utility<\/span> to an area of the Commonwealth unserved by broadband<\/span> pursuant to a petition<\/span> that the Commission<\/span> approves pursuant to this section, including any business activity related to the construction or leasing of broadband capacity facilities, shall be exempt from any rules and regulations that the Commission<\/span> has promulgated or may promulgate governing functional separation of generation, retail transmission, and distribution of<\/span> incumbent electric utilities. Investor-owned electric utilities may for the purposes of this section engage in such coordination between and among their various corporate divisions as necessary for the purposes of providing broadband capacity to an area of the Commonwealth unserved by broadband<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

I.<\/span> Notwithstanding the provisions of § 13.1-620<\/a> or the articles of incorporation of an investor-owned utility, an investor-owned utility may, either directly or through an affiliate<\/span> or subsidiary, lease broadband-related assets<\/span> or capacity to any third party<\/span>. The revenues generated from such leases shall offset (i) the costs of the petition<\/span> recovered through the rate<\/span> adjustment clause described in subsection B or (ii) the utility’s electric cost of service. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPROVISION OF BROADBAND CAPACITY TO UNSERVED AREAS OF THE COMMONWEALTH (\u00a7\n56-585.1:9)\n\nA. Each Phase I Utility and each Phase II Utility, as such terms are defined in\nsubdivision A 1 of § 56-585.1, may submit one or more petitions to provide\nor make available broadband capacity to Internet service providers in areas of\nthe Commonwealth unserved by broadband. The provision of such broadband capacity\nto Internet service providers in areas of the Commonwealth unserved by broadband\npursuant to this section is in the public interest.\n\nB. The costs of providing broadband capacity pursuant to any such petition, net\nof revenue generated therefrom, shall be eligible for recovery from customers as\nan electric grid transformation project pursuant to clause (vi) of subdivision A\n6 of § 56-585.1 filed on or after July 1, 2021, as a non-bypassable charge.\nNotwithstanding any provision of subdivision A 6 or 7 of § 56-585.1, the\nutility may file one or more petitions for approval of such a rate adjustment\nclause, on a stand-alone basis, seeking recovery of the costs of providing\nbroadband capacity at any time on or after July 1, 2021, and the Commission\nshall issue its final order regarding such petition within six months following\nthe date of filing.\n\nC. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 13.1-620 or the articles of\nincorporation of an investor-owned utility, an investor-owned utility may,\neither directly or through an affiliate or subsidiary, pursuant to a petition\nthat the Commissioner approves pursuant to this section, (i) own, manage, or\ncontrol any broadband capacity equipment and electronics, including any plant,\nworks, system, lines, facilities, or properties, or any part or parts thereof,\ntogether with all appurtenances thereto, used or useful in connection with the\nprovision and extension of such broadband services; (ii) lease indefeasible\nrights of use in such broadband capacity equipment and electronics to Internet\nservice providers in areas of the Commonwealth unserved by broadband pursuant to\nthis section; and (iii) provide access points that are outside the\nutility’s energized zone to allow connection between the utility’s\nbroadband capacity system and the Internet service provider’s system.\n\nD. Each petition to provide broadband capacity pursuant to this section that an\ninvestor-owned utility submits to the Commission shall identify the Internet\nservice provider to which the utility shall lease such capacity, together with\nthe area to be served using such capacity. The Commission shall, after notice\nand opportunity for hearing, initiate proceedings to review each petition\nsubmitted. The Commission shall condition any approval of such petition on the\nrequirement that construction shall commence within 18 months of such approval.\nIf the utility fails to commence construction within such time period, the\nutility may resubmit the petition for conditional approval. The Commission shall\nalso condition any approval of such petition on the requirement that the utility\nand its Internet service provider submit annual public reports on construction\nprogress by the utility and delivery of broadband services by the Internet\nservice provider until construction is completed. The Commission’s final\norder regarding any such petition shall be entered by the Commission no more\nthan six months after the date of filing of such petition. An area shall be\ndetermined to be unserved by broadband if (i) the Department of Housing and\nCommunity Development has certified within the last 18 months that the\ndesignated area is unserved; (ii) the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative of\nthe Department of Housing and Community Development has issued a grant or loan\nto construct a broadband service project within the last 18 months, and the\ngrant or loan recipient is the Internet service provider to which the utility\nproposes to lease capacity; (iii) the federal government has issued a grant or\nloan or has provided support to construct a broadband service project in the\ndesignated area within the last 18 months, and the grant or loan recipient is\nthe Internet service provider to which the utility proposes to lease capacity;\nor (iv) the Commission determines the area is unserved on the basis of other\ncompetent evidence. The determination of the Department of Housing and Community\nDevelopment that an area is unserved shall be made following public notice of\nthe proposed finding and an opportunity for third parties to challenge such\nfinding, and such determination shall be presumed sufficient for the Commission\nto find the area to be unserved. The Commission may determine that an area is\nunserved on the basis of other competent evidence.\n\nE. An investor-owned utility shall be responsible for obtaining all necessary\nrights-of-way or other easements or real property rights to permit leasing of\nbroadband capacity to Internet service providers. An Internet service provider\nshall be responsible for obtaining all necessary rights-of-way or other\neasements or real property rights from utility access point to permit the\nprovision of broadband services to end-user customers.\n\nF. As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Broadband” means Internet access at speeds equal to or greater\nthan the adequate speed as determined by the broadband guidelines set out by the\nDepartment of Housing and Community Development for its Virginia\nTelecommunication Initiative from time to time.\n\t\t\t“Unserved by broadband” means a designated area in which less\nthan 10 percent of residential and commercial units are capable of receiving\nbroadband service, provided that the Department of Housing and Community\nDevelopment for its Virginia Telecommunication Initiative may by guideline\nincrease such percentage from time to time.\n\nG. No investor-owned utility nor any affiliate thereof may offer broadband or\nInternet service provider services to residential or commercial end-user\ncustomers in the Commonwealth pursuant to this section. Nothing in this section\nshall be construed to prevent an investor-owned utility or an affiliate thereof\nfrom providing transport of or capacity for broadband or Internet service in the\nCommonwealth as a wholesaler or intermediate vendor, provided that an\nunaffiliated third party is the provider of broadband or Internet services to\nthe end-user customer.\n\nH. The provision and extension of broadband capacity by an incumbent electric\nutility to an area of the Commonwealth unserved by broadband pursuant to a\npetition that the Commission approves pursuant to this section, including any\nbusiness activity related to the construction or leasing of broadband capacity\nfacilities, shall be exempt from any rules and regulations that the Commission\nhas promulgated or may promulgate governing functional separation of generation,\nretail transmission, and distribution of incumbent electric utilities.\nInvestor-owned electric utilities may for the purposes of this section engage in\nsuch coordination between and among their various corporate divisions as\nnecessary for the purposes of providing broadband capacity to an area of the\nCommonwealth unserved by broadband.\n\nI. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 13.1-620 or the articles of\nincorporation of an investor-owned utility, an investor-owned utility may,\neither directly or through an affiliate or subsidiary, lease broadband-related\nassets or capacity to any third party. The revenues generated from such leases\nshall offset (i) the costs of the petition recovered through the rate adjustment\nclause described in subsection B or (ii) the utility’s electric cost of\nservice.\n\nHISTORY: 2019, c. 619; 2020, c. 752; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 356, 357, 369, 370.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}