Wittman helps expand Broadband Access in the Northern Neck
Press Release
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 help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus by utilizing telework, distance learning, and telehealth capabilities," Congressman Wittman Said. "I am glad to see the Northern Neck receive this vital grant signifying a major milestone in bringing high-speed broadband to all of the Northern Neck. I will continue to fight for the remaining VATI grants still under consideration."
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.
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