Fiber Anchors Sustained Economic Development Charlottesville (VA)

Fiber broadband is recognized as the fifth necessary utility for 21st century life, on par with water, sewer, electricity, and paved roads that households and businesses need for education, entertainment, health care, commerce, employment, the delivery of essential government services, and so much more. The COVID pandemic underlined the need for reliable, high-speed, low-latency broadband for everyone, regardless of geographic location. But what tangible economic benefits does fiber deliver to homes, businesses, and communities? This case study examines the economic impact of fiber broadband in Charlottesville (VA) ad the surrounding area, focusing on three key economic indicators: private sector job growth, housing value, and digital microbusiness density, with comparisons made between Charlottesville and other similarly sized cities in Virginia.