Dominion Energy Virginia, All Points Broadband work to extend broadband coverage
Dominion Energy Virginia and All Points Broadband are working together to expand their regional fiber-to-the-home broadband initiative to include unserved areas in Lancaster and Middlesex Counties.
“This expansion shows how the partnership between Dominion Energy and All Points continues to prove a successful model to deliver fiber-to-the-home broadband to currently unserved homes and business in Virginia,” Ed Baine, president of Dominion Energy Virginia, said. “Today’s announcement begins the process of delivering critical infrastructure to thousands of additional Virginians in two more partner jurisdictions. Dominion Energy is proud to play an important role in making broadband available in Virginia.”
Dominion Energy Virginia will provide “middle-mile” fiber optic cable infrastructure that can also be used to bridge the digital divide and reduce broadband deployment obstacles for internet service providers (ISPs). All Points will lease the “middle-mile” fiber installed by Dominion Energy Virginia and be the partnership’s internet service provider.
“Delivering fiber-optic broadband to currently unserved areas requires unique partnerships and new business models,” Jimmy Carr, CEO of All Points Broadband, said. “Working with Dominion Energy through Virginia’s supportive regulatory framework for broadband expansion, and other electric utility partners like the Northern Neck Electric Cooperative, the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative, and the Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, All Points has pioneered a new approach to finally bridge Virginia’s digital divide. We are excited to begin work in Lancaster and Middlesex and plan to continue growing our footprint through additional partnerships with more counties.”
As part of the agreement, Dominion Energy Virginia and All Points will develop network plans to be submitted to the State Corporation Commission for approval. All Points will coordinate with the counties to extend last-mile, fiber-optic broadband access to currently unserved areas.
“The Lancaster County Broadband Authority’s goal is for all citizens of Lancaster County to have access to reliable, affordable, and equitable high-speed broadband. It is imperative that no citizen of Lancaster County, or the County itself, be marginalized because of the digital divide”, Authority Chair Cassie Thompson said. “Joining this regional initiative will help make that objective a reality with the deployment of fiber to the home for approximately 2,700 homes.”
Dominion Energy Virginia has also announced partnerships to provide middle-mile broadband infrastructure in Botetourt, Culpeper, King William, Louisa, and Surry Counties; on Virginia’s Northern Neck in the counties of King George, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland; and for the Pamunkey Indian Reservation.
“The Middlesex County Broadband Authority is excited to partner with All Points and Dominion Energy to begin the process of extending fiber-to-the-home to our unserved residents,” said John Koontz, Jr., vice chair of the Middlesex County Board of Supervisors and chair of the Middlesex County Broadband Authority.
