Using descriptors like “momentous” — even going so far as to call it a milestone similar to the “wedding day for your first born” — Hanover County officials announced Wednesday their plan for addressing long-standing broadband woes.
Hanover intends to deliver high-speed internet countywide through an initiative called Connect Hanover, a public-private partnership with All Points Broadband, Dominion Energy Virginia and Rappahannock Electric Cooperative.
The initiative, which could begin implementation as early as fall 2022, would put fiber optic cables on existing power lines in parts of the county that are unserved, meaning people lack access to a broadband connection of at least 25 megabits per second for downloads and 3 megabits per second for uploads. That’s generally anyone who currently uses satellite, DSL, cellphones and mobile hot spots.
The plan leverages Dominion’s and Rappahannock’s existing power lines for “middle fiber” capabilities, then All Points — known as a “last mile” fiber provider — would connect those fibers to individual homes. All Points works in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Kentucky to establish partnerships with electric utilities to provide broadband services to underserved jurisdictions.
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