Virginia Repositions Itself to Access $613 Million in Federal Funding for Statewide High-Grade Broadband Expansion

With the installation of the necessary hardware to access expanded Broadband service slated to begin last month, July 2025, Royal Examiner has received inquiries from some impacted citizens about rumored delays to that local, regional, state, and national initiative.

A call to the Warren County Administration referred us to contact the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission (NSVRC) and All Points Broadband (APB), who are working together on the project here.

We learned that federal BEAD (Broadband Equity Access & Development) money initially allocated for the project was apparently realized through recent budget cuts to federal departments across various areas. However, our understanding is that due to delays at the federal level to review the re-distributional uses of freed-up federal funds there was a delay in distribution of BEAD assets.

Graphics from the websites of the NSVRC and All Points Broadband, partnering in the expansion of high-speed Internet Access here in Warren County and throughout the region. Royal Examiner file and Courtesy Photos

The NSVRC had a contract in place through the BEAD initiative with All Points Broadband for improved broadband development in 8 counties, including Warren, Frederick, Clarke, Page, Augusta, Rockingham, Fauquier, and Rappahannock. Each county has an agreement in place with NSVRC, which in turn is contracted with the State for access to that developmental funding in its service area in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Since the funding holdup originating at the federal level deals most directly with State governments, we were further referred to the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development (Va. DHCD) for additional information.

Virginia DHCD website home page graphic – below, another Va. DHCD website graphic introducing Gov. Youngkin’s Aug. 6 press release announcing Virginia’s repositioning to acquire delayed BEAD funding to complete its high-speed broadband access to all Virginians.

At the Virginia DHCD website, we found an August 6 Press Release update on the high-speed broadband service expansion funding situation in the wake of the State rebidding on the BEAD contract. Below is that Press Release in its entirety:

Virginia’s proposal, published Today (August 6), will save $200 million under new rules authorized by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce

“Governor Glenn Youngkin today (Aug. 6, 2025) announced that Virginia has published a proposal to complete the Commonwealth’s goal of providing high-speed internet connection to all homes, businesses, and community centers.

“Virginia’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) published the Commonwealth’s Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Final Proposal which, once approved, will award $613 million in federal funding to connect the last 133,500 Virginia locations not yet covered by high-speed internet services.

“When Governor Youngkin took office in 2022, there were 435,924 customers left unserved in Virginia. With a combination of federal and state resources, the Commonwealth has funded connections to all customers statewide except 133,500 remaining customers. The plan published for public comment today will bring that number to zero.

“Day one, we made a promise to connect all Virginia homes and businesses to reliable, high-speed internet, and these grants, once approved, will fund the last step to keeping that promise,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “All Virginians should be proud that we are the nation’s leader in broadband connections, having built 3.5 times more connections in the past four years than any other state. And with the new rules approved by Secretary Lutnick that cut red tape, we are able to do it while saving $200 million in taxpayer dollars, a 25 percent savings.”

Royal Examiner file photo of Va. Gov. Glenn Youngkin on the job.

“The grants for broadband installation, administered by DHCD, will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA) for final approval. The funding will connect 133,500 customers to reliable, high-speed internet and leverage $434 million in private investment from internet providers.

“Under the new ‘Benefit of the Bargain’ grant application process at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Virginia received double the applications, showing robust interest in the program’s streamlined requirements established by the Trump Administration. Through the partnership, Virginia will connect all unserved homes and businesses while also controlling costs.

“This proposal is a significant step forward in Virginia’s broadband expansion efforts. Our approach is designed not only to connect communities but to support economic growth, education, healthcare, and public safety across the Commonwealth,’ said Secretary of Commerce & Trade Juan Pablo Segura.

“ ‘Today’s grant proposal reflects Virginia’s commitment to ensuring every community has access to the modern connectivity it needs to thrive,’ said Department of Housing & Community Development Director Maggie Beal. ‘By utilizing a smart mix of technologies—from fiber to fixed wireless to satellite—we’re maximizing the impact of every taxpayer dollar and building a stronger, more connected Virginia.’

“Virginia’s Final Proposal is now open for public comment for a 7-day window before it is submitted to the NTIA for final approval.

“More information on Virginia’s Final Proposal can be found at <dhcd.virginia.gov/bead>”

Royal Examiner Background

Regarding the original outline, funding, and timeline for the broadband expansion project, we consulted a February 6, 2025, Royal Examiner story. From that story, we note that:

“The Broadband Equity, Access, & Deployment (BEAD) program is a federal initiative to cover areas not included in the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI). Virginia has received $1.48 billion from the program, part of a $42 billion national effort. A key aspect of the BEAD program is that no county funds are required. Instead, funding comes from federal sources and a 25 percent match from broadband providers.

“The BEAD program targets areas without access to speeds of at least 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. Locations previously considered served under outdated definitions, such as homes with DSL internet, may now qualify,’ officials noted.”

Another graphic from the Richmond-based Va. DHCD website.

As to a projected timeline six months ago in February:

“Construction is scheduled to begin in July 2025;

“Network activation will begin in September 2025;

“The project deadline is June 30, 2026, though homeowner connections will continue beyond that date.”

Hopefully, an updated timeline for the Virginia State effort to reassert its place in the BEAD funding and the subsequent installation of necessary high-speed broadband hardware won’t be too far behind the original schedule. We have been told that much of that hardware expansion is likely to be underground, much as Glo-Fiber did with Front Royal inside the town limits not too long ago.