The internet has eased some of the pains of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of us are fortunate enough to work remotely, many students have the opportunity to learn from home, telemedicine has prevented unnecessary doctor’s visits, and video calling has kept family and friends together even when they’re physically apart. Unfortunately, all of these opportunities go away for those who don’t have access to the internet. An estimated 19 million Americans - 6 percent of the total U.S. population - lacks access to broadband service. 

Even before we began socially distancing, rural communities were seeing the effects of slow or nonexistent internet access. Not only does it negatively impact the lives of the individuals in rural America, but it also prevents businesses from relocating to areas that do not have internet sufficient to build connected commerce.

What is Broadband?

Broadband generally refers to the range of technologies behind access to high-speed internet. It is hard-wired internet access that can be delivered by cable, satellite, mobile, fiber optics, and ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line). It is capable of transporting multiple signals and types of traffic simultaneously. These methods are much faster than dial-up internet, which was the precursor to broadband and relied solely on your telephone line for a connection. 

The most common technology employed for internet connection is wired, either through cables, fiber optics, or copper wires. Wireless connections, which include mobile access, are also prevalent, but require the same wired infrastructure running up to certain premises. In either case, these wired connections have largely been installed and are now owned by private companies. 

Because of the costs associated with broadband projects in rural areas, private companies are generally unwilling to build the infrastructure. Building out the necessary foundation for broadband technology costs the same mile-per-mile. However, in rural areas, the same investment will yield far fewer customers. 

What are the benefits?

On an economic level, high-speed internet access can be very impactful to rural communities. E-recruiting lowers job search costs and unemployment rates. It also helps to increase workers’ online and technical skills, thus improving their wages. 

Additionally, incorporating reliable technology into existing rural businesses will boost productivity and generate more revenue. 66% of rural small businesses say poor internet access negatively impacts their business and 38% of rural small businesses say they cannot hire talent with digital skills in their area.

Broadband access has also helped to improve the general quality of life for individuals and communities. It is essential for educational tools, problem-solving, and managing health. Social networking helps to maintain connections within and outside of one’s community. And internet access makes civic engagement much more accessible. 

The State of Broadband in Virginia 

In 2018, Governor Northam announced a plan to deliver infrastructure for internet access to all of Virginia within 10 years. The argument for rural broadband goes beyond equality. Broadband across the Commonwealth could add as much as $1,291,200,000 to gross state product and create approximately 9,415 new jobs. This far exceeds any potential state expenditure necessary to expand broadband access.

Currently, in Virginia’s rural areas, 80.1% of the population has access to low-speed, unreliable internet and only 69% have access to high-speed connections. 

Virginia does have existing programs, like grants from the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) and the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission (TRRC), to help mitigate these issues, but they haven’t been able to reach the entire Commonwealth. These programs have traditionally been well-funded by the legislature. A grant applicant must be a public-private partnership between a local government and a private sector ISP with the goal of bringing service to their community.



These existing grant programs have not been sufficient to incentivize private companies and remove restrictive regulations. More needs to be accomplished at the state level to ensure robust rural connectivity. Stay tuned for our next piece on how to expand broadband in Virginia through advocacy and legislative change!