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Letters to the editor
OPINION
Broadband access seems within reach
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By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Columnist
Compiling 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 traditionally 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.
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.
Denine D’Angelo/The Local
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| The Local Views 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
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Continued from pg. 1 plan to implement the Connect Hanover effort in September.
Budesky made his comments before a near capacity press conference at the courthouse prior to last week’s regularly scheduled Board of Supervisors meeting.
He credited an involved group of citizens including members of the Broadband Committee led by Kristie Proctor and other residents who have maintained a persistent push to improve internet access.
“This initiative has one main goal,” Budesky said. “That goal is to get all unserved homes in Hanover County broadband. To achieve that goal we need strong capable partners.”
All Points Broadband is involved in initiatives in several Virginia counties that are seeking improved internet service. It specializes in providing service to rural areas, often referred to as last-mile providers.
“Their goal is to empower communities by utility grade broadband to underserved markets, deploy fiber and state of the art fixed wire technology to homes and businesses and communities throughout Virginia,” Budesky said.
Jimmy Carr, chief executive officer of All Points Broadband, said, “Public-private partnerships that leverage partnerships between electric utilities and internet service providers are making fiber to the home possible in currently underserved areas, and we are applying this proven strategy in Hanover.”
All Points Broadband will present a network design for the board’s approval in September, and will partner with the county to apply for Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI), also in September.
Budesky said the county is compiling a grant proposal and should hear back by late 2021 or early 2022. Construction could begin as early as Fall 2022.
County residents are currently served by two internet providers, Lumen and Comcast, and those services will continue to play a vital role in the goal of comprehensive coverage.
“We look forward to collaborating with all partners in the county to ensure universal broadband access is available to any resident that wants it,” Budesky said.
Board Chairman Sean Davis said this initiative is the culmination of years of work by citizens and officials to solve what at times seemed like an unsolvable situation.
“Over the years, through citizen contact and information received from two citizen lead broadband access committees, the board was keenly aware of access limitations,” he said. “We also knew that there had to be a more long term and sustainable approach than simply providing county funding to supply the service.”
Davis said that level of funding was not available locally. “That funding wasn’t
Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local
Sen. Ryan McDougle said the proposed improvements would “improve quality of life, foster economic prosperity and help move our region forward.”
possible because we had to ensure the appropriate level of funding for law enforcement, education and the like.”
The private public partnership announced at the press conference enables a path forward to a solution, according to Davis.
“Now that this partnership has been created, we are excited for the opportunity to support remote education for our students and provide economic opportunities for our businesses,” Davis said. “We are more than fortunate for this partnership as it marks the beginning of that journey.”
Last week’s press conference was attended by a number of state and local elected officials including state Sen. Ryan McDougle who represents Hanover County.
“This critical service will improve quality of life, foster economic prosperity and help move our region forward,” McDougle said. “Hanover’s program is consistent with Governor Northam’s goal to provide universal broadband serve to every home and business in Virginia,” he added.
Members from Ashland’s Town Council also attended the event and said the initiative is welcomed news for the Town. For the past two years, the Town has installed more than two miles of fiber to assist it’s business community, but said these efforts will increase attempts to serve other underserved areas of the Town.
“This is positive news for Ashland and Hanover County,” Mayor Steve Trivett said.
Council member Daniel McGraw said the county’s initiative enhances the Town’s efforts to provide broadband to underserved residents and provides options regarding internet providers.
Del. Scott Wyatt, who also represents Hanover, said these types of partnerships are being created around the state and
see INTERNET, pg. 9 ConceptualRenderings
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Continued from pg. 1 attorney and human resources office to compile new policies and plans to update the board at its August meeting.
The county has closed its vaccination clinic at the old Food Lion location in Ashland, but shots are still widely available at area pharmacies, Taylor said.
“While the seven-day positivity rate in Virginia has declined in recent months, we have seen an increase recently,” Taylor said, noting that the Chickahominy Health District is posting numbers that are slightly higher than the state average.
In Hanover County, about 8 percent of the population contracted the virus.
Since his last update, Taylor said the county has received updated information for the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Department Health regarding masks in schools this fall.
“I will say that Hanover County Public Schools is still evaluating masks for the start of the school year,” Taylor said.
He noted that the CDC issued new guidelines last week regarding use of masks indoors, and is encouraging people to wear masks in areas of high transmission. “We are continuing to monitor this and reviewing our policies. Unfortunately, Hanover County is in the substantial transmission area currently…. as of July 25,” Taylor said. “We are having more cases pop up in Hanover County.”
Though the rise of cases is concerning, Taylor said Virginia still ranks low among its neighbors in terms of caseloads, especially when considering states located in the south.
Taylor thanked Chickahominy Health District Director Thomas Franck, Fire Chief Jethro Piland and “hundreds of employees and community volunteers who made this effort possible.”
During a public comment period, one citizen urged board members to consider mask guidelines, especially with unvaccinated or vulnerable populations.
“When I first addressed this board about COVID back in April of last year, I made the comment that there would be a number of people dying, and, unfortunately that actually occurred in our family, “ said Hanover resident Chris French. “Due to COVID, my children lost their grandfather.” “There is a discussion that’s going on regarding the School Board in the future regarding what children should be doing with masks,” French said. “I am openly advocating for mask wearing with CDC recommendations now coming forward, especially for those who are not vaccinated as well as for the protection of school staff members who will be exposed to children without masks.”
French said the absence of masks in classrooms places teachers at risk and could expose others to the virus.
“For protection of your employees as well as the children in this county I would encourage you to strongly take the position for continued mask wearing in our school systems,” he concluded.
INTERNET
Continued from pg. 8 represent a novel approach to an old problem.
“It’s great to have this partnership between Dominion who already has all the aerial poles to put fiber to people’s homes,” he said. “It’s a very different way of thinking as opposed to the old internet service providers that we are used to and uses the current infrastructure that Dominion already has.”
Wyatt said he supports the county’s efforts to obtain a VATI grant to bolster this initiative. “Hopefully, they will qualify for this grant.”
Del. Buddy Fowler provided the following statement regarding last week’s announcement: “Improving Broadband access in Virginia has been a goal of the Virginia General Assembly for years, and the best solution has always required the public and the private sector working together,” Fowler said. “For this reason, I are thrilled by the announcement of the partnership between Hanover County, All Points Broadband, Dominion Energy, and Rappahannock Electric Cooperative to expand Broadband access in Hanover County. Broadband access is critical to the improving the quality of life, education, expanding economic development, and improving the overall quality of life in Hanover County.”
Hanover Schools Superintendent Michael Gill said last week’s announcement is also good news for county students and educators.
“From an equity standpoint, this will level the playing field for all of our students,” he said
Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local
Ashland Town Council member Daniel McGraw listened closely to the new initiative as offi cials outlined the plan. He is fl anked by Ashland Town Council member Anita Barnhart. Ashland Mayor Steve Trivett also attended the press conference.
noting that eventually, this initiative could eliminate the need for hot spots and allow students to access the internet from any location.
Budesky encouraged residents to contact their state and local legislators to seek support for this initiative and encouraged all citizens or businesses who want broadband to complete a broadband availability survey at fiber.allpointsbroadband.com.
Following the press conference, the board allocated $16.9 million of the $29.3 million received from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for internet and infrastructure projects. Budesky said those funds place the county in a better position to leverage and obtain grants.
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