Warner & Kaine Announce $6 Million In Federal Funding To Construct Broadband Infrastructure In Buchanan And Scott Counties

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced $6,000,000 in federal funding to construct broadband infrastructure in Buchanan and Scott Counties. This funding, awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Community Connect Grant Program, will be used to build out and construct broadband Ethernet fibers that will bring broadband to rural communities in Virginia.

“We are thrilled to announce this funding to help communities in Buchanan and Scott Counties improve access to broadband,” the Senators said. “Broadband service will improve quality of life for residents in these areas by connecting them to educational resources, health care services, and tools to help find jobs and grow businesses. We’re going to keep working to expand broadband until all Virginians have the access they need.”

Scott County will receive $3,000,000 to be used by the Scott County Telephone Cooperative (SCTC) to construct a broadband Ethernet Fiber. This Ethernet fiber would ensure access to internet service at up to one gigabit per second in 603 locations in the Big Ridge community and surrounding area in Dickenson County. Kaine visited the Scott County Telephone Cooperative in 2014 and was briefed on its work to increase economic development and connectivity in the region.

Buchanan County will receive $3,000,000 to build out the fiber network to 676 establishments in an underserved portion of the county, enabling access to advanced broadband technology for thousands of residents.

Warner and Kaine have long pushed to expand broadband access in Virginia as Governors and Senators. In February, Warner and Kaine joined a bipartisan group of colleagues to urge President Trump to include broadband in an infrastructure initiative. And in October, Warner and Kaine praised a Senate Democratic proposal to invest $40 billion to build broadband infrastructure necessary to connect over 34 million Americans to high-speed internet.

The USDA’s Community Connect Grant Program helps fund efforts to bring broadband to rural communities.

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