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Wittman helps expand Broadband Access in the Northern Neck
Washington,
February 8, 2021
Tags:
Broadband
WASHINGTON – Recently, Governor Ralph Northam announced $29.6 million in grants awarded through the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) to deliver high-speed internet access to many rural, unserved, and underserved Virginians. This first round set of awards totaling $29.6 million will go to 11 localities through 5 projects. One of the projects that received an award was the Northern Neck Planning District Commission. The Northern Neck Planning District Commission will partner with All Points Broadband to help construct a regional fiber-to-the-home broadband network to bring gigabit-capable internet access to an estimated 1,767 units households and small businesses in King George, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland Counties. The $10.3 million award from the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative will support construction of a first phase of a regional fiber network that will bring internet service to approximately 5,000 unserved locations. “As the Commonwealth deals with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans are doing their utmost to Last September, Congressman Wittman announced that he authored five letters to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development’s Office of Broadband in support of ten VA-01 counties’ FY 2021 Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) grant applications to expand reliable high-speed broadband service to rural Virginia. The Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) extends broadband service to currently unserved areas. VATI prepares communities to build, utilize, and capitalize on telecommunications infrastructure with the goal of creating strong, competitive communities. Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he serves as the Vice Ranking Member of the full Committee and Ranking Member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee. ###
September 18, 2020
Tamarah Holmes, Ph.D. Director, Office of Broadband Department of Housing and Community Development 600 East Main Street, Suite 300 Richmond, VA 23219
Dear Director Holmes: I am writing in support of the Northern Neck Planning District Commission’s (NNPDC) FY 2021 Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) grant application to provide a regional network that will provide gigabit-capable, fiber-to-the-home broadband to all currently unserved locations in the Counties of King George, Northumberland, Richmond and Westmoreland. The four counties and the NNPDC have partnered with All Points Broadband, Dominion Energy Virginia, and the Northern Neck Electric Cooperative on this effort. Earlier this year, All Points Broadband, Dominion Energy, Northern Neck Electric Cooperative and the Counties of King George, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to advance a regional broadband partnership that aims to deliver fiber-optic broadband service to unserved households and businesses in Virginia’s Northern Neck Region. Approval of this application would help meet a critical and mounting need to expand high-speed broadband service to the Northern Neck. Greater Broadband access to this region will provide greater educational opportunities for students and adult learners and cultivate better traction for business growth. The partners and counties of this application designed this project to be regional in scope and utilize state VATI grant funds to amplify local and private funding. This type of regional approach is crucial for the Governor’s mission to provide state-wide connectivity in the coming years. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this VATI application. Moreover, if you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact my office. Sincerely, |