BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: It is great to see this kind of round-up of an array of broadband activities happening throughout the country. It is a reminder that broadband remains a potent economic development issue throughout the country, if not in Washington. Kudos to Smart and Resilient Cities for putting this piece together!

Broadband Expansion Gains Momentum Across U.S., from Smart and Resilient Cities

A host of states and municipalities have recently made progress on the broadband scene, moving toward increased access to high-speed internet. Surveying the country, Smart & Resilient Citiescompiled a round-up of related news stories, featuring public private partnerships from state capitals to rural counties.

Virginia

News from the State Capital

In early July, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced the creation of two new state-level positions to address the issue of broadband internet access.

A Chief Broadband Advisor and a Deputy Advisor will be in charge of creating and helping implement a plan to increase broadband internet access in rural areas. The plan will support Southwest Virginia and other rural parts of the commonwealth that don’t have broadband access.

Governor Northam said the effort will take collaboration, including support from the private sector, to achieve his goal for the entire commonwealth to have access to broadband internet within ten years, according to local news updates from an event announcing the new positions. One such report included Dean Sigman, an operations manager with SCS Broadband, which is helping establish broadband access in the county, who agreed that the creation of the broadband and deputy broadband advisors is important. Sigman said the company currently serves around 100 customers, and that this announcement will help expedite their ability to bring broader access to businesses and residents in these areas.

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Source: Broadband Expansion Gains Momentum Across U.S.