$17.5 Million Broadband Grant Awarded To Loudoun County To Help Western Loudoun Residents

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Loudoun County received more than $17.5 million to provide broadband internet access to thousands of residents in the western portion of the county. The funds came from a grant from the Virginia Telecommunication Intiative.

In a news release, county officials said construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2022. They estimated it would take 24-30 months to reach all addresses in the area.

In total, the grant funds will provide internet access to more than 8,600 people, officials said. The grant will focus on providing fiber-to-the-home in areas that are not currently serviced by an internet provider.

John Bayliss is the Department of Information Technology director for Loudoun County. "Loudoun County is extremely excited about the grant and working with our partners to bring expanded broadband coverage to western Loudoun,” Bayliss said. “This initiative is the single biggest broadband expansion project that the county and Board of Supervisors have undertaken, and we are very optimistic that our community will greatly benefit from this opportunity."

Loudoun County was one of 57 localities that applied for the grant in September. Broadband expansion was previously identified as a strategic initiative by the Board of Supervisors.

Loudoun County will provide more than $12 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act as a local funding match. In total, the project will cost approximately $61 million.

More information about the project, including which addresses are included in the broadband project area, is available on the county's website.