Retired Mathews County school teacher Judy Rowe of Gwynn urged county supervisors during the Jan. 23 board meeting to push for affordable high-speed internet access for all residents.

Rowe said that such access is a necessity in today’s world and that it would provide opportunities for residents to have full-time jobs working from their homes, especially young people who would otherwise have to leave the county to find employment after graduation.

“Our young people who would love to stay here could do so by becoming entrepreneurs with online businesses if they had internet access,” she said. “Our young people lose, and so does Mathews County.”

Rowe pointed out that many houses in Mathews are owned by people who live elsewhere and come to Mathews part-time. If they had internet access, these people might be able to move to Mathews and work from home, she said.

Beyond that, said Rowe, current residents need to order materials, access medical records, and...