The good news about broadband in Mathews County just keeps coming.
Mathews Broadband Advisory Board chair Judy Rowe announced to county supervisors Tuesday night that the broadband affordability mandate she received when her advisory board was organized in 2019 is on the cusp of being met.
Rowe got word earlier this week that the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program will soon be available for eligible Mathews residents. The program provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households, she said, and Breezeline and Open Broadband, two broadband providers in the county, are both participants in the program.
In addition, said Rowe, Breezeline is participating in the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative’s Line Extension Customer Assistance Program (LECAP), which assists eligible households with up to $3,000 of the cost of extending broadband lines down long driveways. Funding for the program comes from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
“We’ve been going after affordability since we started,” said Rowe during a telephone interview. “I cannot believe these opportunities … The possibilities are just extraordinary.”
According to a handout Rowe shared, a federal qualifying household is one that meets at least one of the following criteria: has an income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines; participates in such assistance programs as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline; meets the eligibility criteria for a participating broadband provider’s existing low-income program; or is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-priced school lunch or breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision.
Rowe explained that the last two criteria are particularly important to Mathews. Since Mathews County has a poverty level that makes it eligible for free and reduced-price lunches and breakfasts for all of its students, she said that every Mathews household with a child attending public school will qualify for the broadband service discount of $30 per month.
In addition, Breezeline has recently created a low-income program for its customers, she said, and the price point for that service, coupled with the discount, will essentially make broadband free for any Mathews County Public School student who has Breezeline for a provider. Open Broadband is considering such a program, as well, she said.
A second benefit under the Affordable Connectivity Program that Rowe said will not involve her board is the provision of up to a $100 discount per eligible household on a one-time purchase of a computer, laptop or tablet, as long as the household contributes between $10 and $50 toward that purchase. The Affordable Connectivity Program is also available to people who participate in certain Tribal specific programs and those who received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year.
Rowe said that those interested in the Affordable Connectivity Program should apply for the assistance online at www.affordableconnectivity.gov.
But households without internet shouldn’t be discouraged, she said. The Broadband Advisory Board is coordinating efforts to assist residents with their applications. People will be available to help out during this year’s Market Days, at public schools in Mathews on book day, and at Mathews Memorial Library on an ongoing basis. There will be other opportunities, as well, said Rowe, and those will be announced when the dates and locations are confirmed.
For residents who live down long lanes that exceed their internet service provider’s standard connection drop length, the online LECAP eligibility map shows that all households in Mathews with incomes of up to $89,066 are eligible for assistance of up to $3,000, while in some zip codes, households with incomes of up to $133,599 are eligible. According to a booklet put out by LECAP, the cost of extending lines down long driveways can run up to as much as $25,000, depending on the distance.
To see the zip code eligibility map, to find out more information, or to apply for assistance, visit https://dhcd.virginia.gov/lecap.
Rowe said she’s excited about all the opportunities that have become available to provide broadband to Mathews residents at an affordable price.
“We’ve been talking about these programs because we knew they were around, but it all came out last week,” she said. “It’s so exciting because it really is the affordable piece.”
Job opportunity in broadband
Open Broadband, a wireless internet provider, has partnered with Rappahannock Community College to offer a course this fall that teaches the concepts and practical skills for students to become internet installation technicians.
According to Nick Steward of Open Broadband, the course, Internet Installation Technician, will be offered on two successive weekends, beginning Sept. 10 and ending Sept. 18, at the college’s Glenns campus. The classes will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, for a total of 32 hours of instruction.
“The course will introduce you to the technology involved in wireless internet via radio waves,” said Steward.
RCC’s Workforce Program Developer Kelly Clifton said the cost for the four-day class is $699, but all costs will be covered by a grant. All students have to do is fill out the registration form. No money is required.
Steward said that class size is limited, and the class is expected to fill up fast, so those interested should contact Clifton at kclifton@rappahannock.edu or 804-758-6794 as soon as possible.