In July of 2021, the Frederick County Board of Supervisors approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with All Points Broadband and regional electricity utility companies to participate in a regional partnership to bring fiber internet service to the County’s unserved locations. Virginia’s Department of Housing & Community Development has awarded the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative grant of $96,873,500 through the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund within the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The project benefits from substantial collaboration and partnership between All Points Broadband and electric utility providers Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, and Dominion Energy Virginia in accordance with their respective regulations.
“We are pleased that the grant has been awarded and the project is moving forward,” said Charles DeHaven, Jr., Chairman, Frederick County Board of Supervisors. “Connecting our rural areas to broadband will be huge benefit to our citizens and we look forward to the day that becomes a reality.”
The scope of the Shenandoah Valley Regional Project includes providing service to the following number of units and the number of miles of fiber to be laid to accomplish that, by county:
- Augusta: 6,617 units, 738 fiber miles
- Clarke: 3,278 units, 280 fiber miles
- Fauquier: 9,656 units, 700 fiber miles
- Frederick: 7,113 units, 454 fiber miles
- Page: 3,805 units, 360 fiber miles
- Rappahannock: 1,981 units, 271 fiber miles
- Rockingham: 7,580 units, 682 fiber miles
- Warren: 2,110 units, 275 fiber miles
Fiber construction is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2023 following the first phase of the project which will be focused on Low Level Design and the pole attachment make-ready process. Construction will continue until the end of July, 2025.
The Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission (NSVRC) is serving as a partner with AllPoints Broadband (APB) and the localities. APB will provide NSVRC with a written report each month, detailing APB’s progress against established project milestones. NSVRC will provide detailed progress reports to each locality.
Residents are encouraged to visit https://fiber.allpointsbroadband.com/ to confirm their inclusion in the project and to preregister for notifications. Preregistration is not required to participate in the grant-funded project. Residents will be notified approximately 60-90 days before service will become available at their address. All service levels are eligible for the federal Affordable Connectivity Program’s $30/month discount.
A standard hookup fee will apply but fees above the standard hookup fee will be waived for the first year. More information on the Affordable Connectivity Program is available at https://www.fcc.gov/acp
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