The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently released a report analyzing the lack of access rural Americans have to high-speed Internet, or broadband. The report notes that robust broadband service is a necessity for businesses to compete in a global economy. High-speed Internet access is important for job creation, education and the Virginia’s economic competitiveness. In the Commonwealth, 21 percent of the population is without access to high-speed Internet, a number slightly higher than the national average. For those Virginian’s living in the rural areas – 64 percent of the population lacks access to broadband.

As set forth in Blueprint Virginia, the Virginia Chamber promotes continued investment in expanding broadband coverage and planning efforts. Further, the Chamber promotes cooperation and coordination through public-private partnerships to expand broadband services and lower deployment costs in areas where broadband expansion is not economically feasible. Click here for the report.

Source: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)