Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech) received a $389,891 CAREER (Faculty Early Career Development) award from the National Science Foundation's Division of Information and Intelligent Systems under the Computer and Information Science and Engineering program (CFDA 47.070), effective June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2031. This project develops scalable techniques and predictive modeling frameworks to validate broadband infrastructure availability and performance across the United States. The research addresses the critical challenge of assessing Internet Service Provider (ISP) network deployment at national scale by applying machine learning and Internet measurement methodologies to forecast coverage changes, infer service availability from spatial and demographic data, and validate claimed service performance metrics.

The project will produce open-source tools, predictive models, datasets, and software integrated into public dashboards designed for use by local, state, tribal, and federal policymakers; community advocates; and researchers. These products will enable stakeholders to evaluate the accuracy of ISP service claims, identify broadband access gaps, and support evidence-based allocation of public broadband investment funds to underserved communities. By reframing broadband measurement as a prediction problem, the research expands methodological approaches for assessing Internet infrastructure deployment under conditions of incomplete information, strengthening public oversight of broadband deployment nationwide.