U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen Visits Comcast Rural Broadband Expansion Project in Virginia

WHAT’S NEW?

• On May 13, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen and leaders from across Virginia joined Comcast for a tour of a recently completed rural broadband expansion project to connect nearly 700 previously unserved homes in Stafford County, VA.
• The visit included a tour of the project, remarks by Secretary Yellen, Stafford County Council Chairwoman Meg Bohmke, and Broderick Johnson, Executive Vice President, Public Policy & Executive Vice President, Digital Equity, Comcast Corporation, and concluded with a roundtable discussion where local Xfinity customers shared their feedback on the positive impact of high-speed broadband to their daily lives.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EVENT

• The day kicked off with a field visit where Secretary Yellen had the opportunity to engage with Comcast technicians and learn about the work that goes into building and maintaining a world-class broadband network in rural areas, including:
  • A speed test of the Xfinity network that showed ultrafast speeds exceeding 1.2 Gigabit per second (Gbps).
  • Demonstration of a drill used to dig and install cables underground without disturbing roads or lawns – which is critical when extending service to homes with long driveways in rural communities.
  • An example of how Comcast technicians repair damaged fiber lines through fiber splicing.
• To close out the day, Secretary Yellen hosted a roundtable discussion with local Xfinity customers and community leaders, Stafford County elected officials, Virginia State Broadband Director Dr. Tamarah Holmes, and Comcast’s Beltway Region Senior Vice President Ray Roundtree and Broderick Johnson to hear their perspectives on the buildout and its impact on economic growth in the region.   
• During the roundtable, Richard, a resident of Stafford County, shared a story about the personal impact on his family. “My wife is a high school teacher of 42 years. During the COVID pandemic because we didn’t have high-speed Internet at home, she had to go to the school to remotely teach her students, “said Richard. “The Comcast service we now have is very fast and extremely reliable.”
• Meg Bohmke, Chairwoman of the Stafford Board of Supervisors, noted, “We have heard from many residents in the project footprint who are ecstatic about finally working effectively from home and completing schoolwork.”  

“Alongside federal funds, states, cities, and counties are stepping up as well. And the private sector, including Comcast, as we see right here, is seizing the opportunity to expand services. That’s why I see our efforts to close the digital divide as a prime example of how all levels of government, along with private companies and non-profits, can effectively work together.” – U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen

WHY IT MATTERS

• Comcast was selected as the Internet Service Provider of choice for this expansion project, which was a partnership between Virginia, Stafford County and Comcast.
• As states across the country think about expanding high-speed Internet access through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, this project serves as an example of a successful public-private partnership that connected an unserved rural community to the power of the Internet.
• The project was funded in part through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Telecommunications Initiative (VATI). The funding for the VATI grant was provided by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
• Nearly 700 homes were passed with Comcast’s fiber-rich broadband network – more than originally planned in the proposal – and Xfinity customers can subscribe to plans including our 1.2 Gbps service, which is available to customers nationwide. 

“We know the transformative impact that public-private partnerships like this can have on rural communities – and it was great joining Secretary Yellen and Virginia leaders to meet with Stafford County residents and hear their perspective first-hand. We’re excited to continue building off this momentum and deepen our partnership to connect more Americans to the game-changing power of broadband.” – Ray Roundtree, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Beltway Region.

HOW ELSE IS COMCAST INVESTING IN VIRGINIA?

• Earlier this month, Comcast launched a new round of Comcast RISE in Richmond, VA – which will award another 100 small businesses in the Greater Richmond Area (and 500 total nationwide) with comprehensive grant packages.
• In April 2024, Comcast announced an expansion of its network to 12,000 additional homes and businesses across the Lynchburg, VA area – including Campbell County, the City of Lynchburg, and Forest, VA.
• In January 2024, Comcast completed an expansion to more than 3,300 homes and businesses in Strasburg, VA.
• In November 2023, Comcast awarded $25,000 and 100 laptops to the Chickahominy Indian Tribe in Charles City County, VA – and also installed a Lift Zone at the Tribal Center to support digital skills training.

THE BOTTOM LINE

• As Secretary Yellen underscored, Comcast’s expansion in Stafford County is a great example of a collaborative public-private partnership to address gaps in broadband infrastructure and connect more Americans.
• Building on this momentum is key, and Comcast’s work continues to connect more communities in Virginia and across the nation to its powerful broadband network.
• This year, Comcast expects to connect more than one million additional homes and businesses to its network. To learn more, visit: https://corporate.comcast.com/broadband-partnerships