OPINION | The Local Views
Broadband access seems within reach By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Columnist
C
ompiling a list of negative impacts of the COVID pandemic would not be difficult, but identifying a silver lining associated with the year-plus experience is more challenging. As we enter what all of us hope is a return to some semblance of normalcy, it’s easy to overlook lessons learned during the pandemic as we rush back to our normal routines. And for most of us, that routine includes access to broadband and dependable internet service; but for underserved residents in many Virginia counties, the future promises solutions that long eluded local, state and federal officials. Senator Mark Warner recently said that thanks to the American Recovery Act, all Virginians will have access to broadband by 2024. That’s a bold promise, one that a few short months ago seemed almost impossible. Goochland became one of the first counties in the Commonwealth to announce a memorandum of understanding with three companies to provide service for an estimated 3,500 underserved users in the county. The county displayed a willingness to partner with the private sector to address a longstanding problem whose negative effects were highlighted during a pandemic when internet became essential for students, and parents. Providing that access to areas currently not served is a lofty goal, and one that has tradition-
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Connected high-speed Internet access.
ally suffered from a lack of resources that made it difficult to identify viable solutions. Many localities reached the difficult truth that the problem was too large in terms of cost for local governments to tackle. State lawmakers have become involved in recent years by providing grants and other incentives for localities to utilize, but, in actuality, those grants have been hard to obtain for many counties.
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Hanover County Administrator John Budesky said recently received federal funds will allow officials to put more skin in the game when seeking partnerships and grants and promised big news regarding broadband access for his county in coming days. It’s welcome news for the thousands who will benefit from the efforts, and even better news for localities that realize internet access not only affects education, but almost every aspect of local government. For potential businesses and investors, comprehensive internet coverage is one of the first factors considered when relocating or expanding, and broadband access plays a vital role in the daily operations of most operations. For parents who drove to various locations during at-home learning searching for hot spots so students could complete homework assignments, the news is a welcomed relief. While most of those students in Central Virginia will be returning to in-class instruction, educators are still evaluating possible benefits from online offerings and what actually worked during the pandemic. Expanded electives or access to unique programs are just some of the possibilities for exploration thanks to comprehensive internet coverage that in coming years will be available to almost everyone. I’m not sure it’s fair to contend that the pandemic solved our broadband access problem, but there’s no doubt that federal funding provided during the crisis was the impetus for the massive changes for the better.
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LETTERS | Reader Views
Congratulations to Managing Editor Melody Kinser on her retirement If you’ve read the Mechanicsville Local or the Ashland-Hanover Local, you’ve certainly seen the name “Melody Kinser – Managing Editor” in bold throughout the newspaper. Well, sadly, those days have come to an end, as Melody Kinser has retired. After more than 13 years of service to our community, and more than 45 as a journalist, Mel (as she is affectionately known by her friends) is calling it quits. On behalf of Col. David R. Hines and the men and women of the Hanover County Sheriff ’s Office, we’d like to wish our friend, Melody Kinser, a very happy retirement. Over the years, Mel has been steadfast in her duty to keep the citizens of Hanover County informed in a non-partisan way. Mel was always an excellent partner with the Hanover County Sheriff ’s Office. We always hold ourselves to a very high standard, and we expect members of our community to hold us to that standard as well. This is exactly what Mel did, all while working closely with us to keep our community informed. Mel regularly worked long hours and made last-minute changes in the paper prior to it going to print to ensure the community had the latest, most up-to-date and factual information. Her work ethic and support were unwavering. She will definitely be missed. In closing, we at the Sheriff ’s Office are very happy for Mel and wish her a happy and healthy retirement! The staff of the Hanover County Sheriff ’s Office
