by Jackie Nunnery
KILMARNOCK—While residents of rural communities have always been acutely aware of the problems presented by the lack of broadband, it took a pandemic and the sudden reliance on the internet to do business or deliver education and health care to bring that awareness to the rest of the country.
Virginia lawmakers at the state and federal level, along with key stakeholders, met October 21 at the seventh annual Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity to discuss ways to bring broadband and its economic opportunities to rural communities in Virginia.
The summit, held virtually this year due to the pandemic, was presented by the Virginia Rural Center, a partnership between the Center for Rural Virginia and the Council for Rural Virginia. The stated goal of the organization is to work with “policymakers and stakeholders to create innovative solutions and expand entrepreneurial opportunities.”
Gov. Ralph Northam acknowledged the…
