Rep. Wexton and Deputy Commerce Secretary Graves discuss expanding Broadband 

On June 29 Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) hosted U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves in Hillsboro to discuss new federal funding coming to Virginia to expand access to high-speed internet with a roundtable of local residents, business owners, and other stakeholders.

On Monday, President Joe Biden announced $42.5 billion in  Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program funding to close the digital divide by 2030, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Virginia is set to receive $1.48 billion.

“Expanding broadband means kids don’t have to sit in a McDonald’s parking lot to connect to WiFi just so they can do their homework. Expanding broadband means new opportunities for small business owners like the ones here today to grow and innovate their business. Expanding broadband means not leaving our rural communities behind,” said Rep. Wexton. “That’s changing thanks to investments like the one announced by President Biden earlier this week – made possible by our once-in-a-generation Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”

Rep. Wexton and Deputy Secretary Graves heard from a wide variety of participants about their challenges with accessing and affording broadband in their homes, businesses, and classrooms, as well as discussed ongoing broadband expansion initiatives in Virginia – including a project being undertaken through All Points Broadband, made possible in part by federal funding in the American Rescue Plan, to  connect thousands of rural homes and businesses across the region. 

Participants emphasized the importance of reliable, high-speed internet to conduct business, particularly at Loudoun’s many agritourism businesses like wineries and breweries, as well as ways lack of connection is holding students and teachers back from making the most of their learning opportunities in school.

The meeting participants included: U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves, U.S. Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (VA-10), State Delegate David Reid, Virginia Broadband
Advisory Council, Hillsboro Mayor Roger Vance, Beth Erickson, Visit Loudoun, Tia Earman,  Rural Economic Development Council and Loudoun Farm Bureau member, Elizabeth Wallace, Loudoun Broadband Alliance, Kyle Rosner and Tom Innes, All Points Broadband, Bill and Bonnie Hatch, owners of Zephaniah Farm Vineyard, Harriet Wegmeyer, Owner, Wegmeyer Farms, Robert “Tony” Lunn, Warrenton VFW Post 9835, and  Ronnie Ross, VA-10 resident and former Fauquier County Public Schools High School Teacher.