Update – July 2025:
Following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on July 3, 2025, AT&T announced it will accelerate its fiber network expansion. Starting in 2026, AT&T plans to add 1 million new customer locations per year. This is supported by new tax incentives and access to midband spectrum provided under the legislation. With over 30 million fiber locations already reached, this move brings AT&T closer to its goal of 60 million by 2030 and highlights the urgency for broadband infrastructure expansion in underserved areas like ours.

Updated May 2025

Background
This petition was originally created in 2021 to address the critical need for expanded broadband access in King George County, Virginia. Since then, several federal initiatives have been implemented, but our community continues to face significant challenges with limited internet service providers and inadequate broadband infrastructure.

Current Federal Funding Landscape (2025)
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) passed in November 2021 allocated $65 billion for broadband expansion nationwide, with the following key programs now in effect:

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program: $42.45 billion allocated to states for broadband deployment, with Virginia receiving approximately $1.48 billion for underserved areas
Digital Equity Act Programs: $2.75 billion to promote digital literacy and inclusion
ReConnect Program: Continued funding for rural broadband infrastructure with expanded eligibility criteria
The current federal budget (FY2025) includes:

Rural Telecommunications and Broadband Loans: $14.27 billion (increased from $11.87 billion in 2021)
Rural Telemedicine and Distance Learning Grants: $75 million (increased from $60 million in 2021)
Community Connect Grant Program: $50 million (increased from $35 million in 2021)
Section 379G Rural Development Grants: $5 million (increased from $3 million in 2021)
King George County Broadband Status (2025)
Despite increased federal funding, King George County continues to face significant broadband challenges:

Limited Provider Options: The county remains severely underserved with minimal competition among service providers.
Wireless Authority Funds: The King George Wireless Authority fund balance remains largely unchanged since January 2020, with only minimal expenditures for feasibility studies but no major infrastructure investments.
Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI): King George County has received preliminary approval for a $3.8 million grant in partnership with a regional provider, but implementation has been delayed.
Middle Mile Infrastructure: The county lacks critical middle-mile infrastructure necessary to support last-mile connections to residents and businesses.
Our Request
We, the undersigned residents of King George County, Virginia, petition our local, state, and federal representatives to:

Allocate a portion of Virginia's BEAD Program funding specifically to King George County broadband expansion projects.
Activate the dormant Wireless Authority funds ($39,926.69+) to leverage additional state and federal funding opportunities.
Implement an open-access network model that encourages multiple service providers to compete in our market.
Expedite the deployment of middle-mile infrastructure through public-private partnerships.
Establish accountability measures and transparent reporting on broadband expansion progress in our county.
Create a community broadband advisory committee with resident representation to ensure community needs are prioritized.
Our community deserves the same digital opportunities available to neighboring counties. Reliable, affordable, high-speed internet is no longer a luxury but an essential service for education, healthcare, economic development, and quality of life.

Sources: Federal Communications Commission, NTIA, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, King George County Board of Supervisors public records, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act appropriations