For immediate release Contact: Neiman C. Young, PhD County Administration
January 27, 2021
The Northern Neck Planning District Commission, All Points Broadband, and the Counties of King George, Northumberland, Richmond and Westmoreland Receive Significant Grant In Support of First Phase of Regional Broadband Initiative for the Northern Neck
King George, Va. – The Northern Neck Planning District Commission and All Points Broadband announced today that they have received a $10.3 million grant to help fund construction of a regional fiber-to-the-home broadband network to bring internet access to approximately 5,000 unserved locations in the Counties of King George, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland.
“Receiving this grant is a significant milestone on our path to achieving universal broadband in King George, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland Counties,” said Jimmy Carr, All Points’ CEO. “Last March, we established a unique partnership among All Points, these four counties, Dominion Energy, and the Northern Neck Electric Cooperative, and together, we are pioneering a new model for bringing fiber-optic broadband to communities that have been passed over.”
“With so many Virginians working and learning from home, there is a tremendous need for access to reliable internet,” said Joe Woomer, Dominion Energy’s vice president of Grid & Technical Solutions. “We’re committed to supporting broadband efforts every step of the way, and we’re thrilled to help enable this breakthrough.”
“Northern Neck Electric Cooperative is proud to have been part of this critical regional initiative from the very beginning,” said President & CEO Brad Hicks. “Bridging the digital divide is a complex challenge and we have to think big.”
The $10.3 million grant from the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative will support construction of a first phase of a regional fiber network that will bring internet service to approximately 5,000 unserved locations. A deployment timeframe and plans for the second phase of the regional project will be announced over the course of the first quarter.
Residents can visit https://fiber.allpointsbroadband.com to register their location and determine whether they are in the project’s first phase.
“I am grateful to Northern Neck Planning District for their work as the lead applicant and coordination of the localities, and for the work of our County staff to provide them the data and support necessary for a successful application,” said Annie Cupka, Chairwoman, King George County Board of Supervisors, “King George is honored to be a part of a project that will close the digital divide by promoting social and economic equity within our community and the Northern Neck Region.”
“Bringing Phase One this much closer to fruition is a testament to the hard work of our entire region, and the consistent support we’ve received from the Department of Housing and Community Development,” said Jerry W. Davis, Executive Director of the Northern Neck Planning District Commission. “We look forward to working with All Points, Dominion, and Northern Neck Electric Cooperative to achieve our vision of universal broadband.”
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Media contacts:
KGC: nminor@co.kinggeorge.state.va.us
APB media contact: fiber@allpointsbroadband.com