New Fiber Broadband Association Report: Fiber Fuels 35% of Charlottesville Job Growth and $4M Increase in Housing Value

Study highlights dramatic benefits of fiber broadband on residents and businesses

Today, the Fiber Broadband Association released a study that reveals the transformative impact of fiber broadband in Charlottesville, Virginia, underscoring its role as a catalyst for job creation, housing value growth, and digital entrepreneurship. The findings underscore fiber's potential to transform communities nationwide, providing critical insights as federal and state governments continue to invest in broadband expansion under programs such as the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) and Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI).

The availability of fiber broadband has been transformative for Charlottesville, fueling economic growth by supporting key industries like biotechnology, defense, and healthcare, while enabling small businesses to thrive and connecting residents to essential services like telemedicine and education, the report states. “Fiber is good for businesses in general, but we have a very vibrant small startup business environment here,” said Juandiego Wade, Mayor of Charlottesville. “Fiber helps them reach outside the boundaries of Charlottesville in a much more robust way.”

The white paper, titled “Fiber Anchors Sustained Economic Development: The Charlottesville Impact,” examines fiber’s contributions over the past decade, highlighting its role as a modern utility essential for economic success in the 21st-century.

Key findings from the report include:

• Job Creation: High-speed fiber broadband accounted for approximately 35% of Charlottesville's private sector job growth between 2015 and 2019, adding nearly 735 new jobs especially in professional, scientific, and technical industries.
• Housing Value Growth: The availability of fiber broadband contributed to an estimated $4 million annual increase in housing values in the Charlottesville area, enhancing wealth for homeowners and expanding the local tax base.
• Digital Micro Business Density: Charlottesville ranks highly in Digital Micro Business Density- a key indicator of small business health- compared to Virginia cities of a similar size, thanks to reliable, high-speed broadband enabling access to global markets.

“Fiber broadband is more than just an internet connection- it’s the foundation for economic growth and resilience," said Deborah Kish, VP of Research & Workforce Development at the Fiber Broadband Association. “Charlottesville’s experience demonstrates how long-term investment in fiber infrastructure benefits both urban and rural areas, creating opportunities for businesses, entrepreneurs and families alike.”

Charlottesville’s success story illustrates the far-reaching benefits of investing in fiber broadband, from driving economic growth to enhancing quality of life for its residents. As communities across the nation continue to prioritize broadband expansion, the lessons from Charlottesville serve as a powerful example of how fiber can lay the groundwork for a brighter, more connected future. The full white paper is available for download here.

About the Fiber Broadband Association

The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists dedicated to the advancement of fiber broadband deployment and the pursuit of a world where communications are limitless, advancing quality of life and digital equity anywhere and everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers, communities, and policy makers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations, and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build the critical infrastructure that provides the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in North America, LATAM, Europe, MEA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.

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