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After a successful year of working to close the broadband connectivity gap through the mid-Atlantic region, the Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware Association of Broadband Cooperatives (VMDABC) is in the midst of its fourth annual Rural Fiber Expo in Annapolis.  Chair Casey Logan opened up the Annual Meeting on Wednesday with the following remarks as prepared for delivery: Good afternoon everyone, It is with immense pride and gratitude that I stand before you today to reflect on the remarkable journey our organization has undertaken over the past year. This annual meeting is not just a formality; it is a celebration of…

The Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware Association of Broadband Cooperatives (VMDABC) came together to detail progress in the mid-Atlantic’s broadband connectivity and preview plans for the year ahead. After a successful year of working to close the broadband connectivity gap through the mid-Atlantic region, the Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware Association of Broadband Cooperatives (VMDABC) hosted its fourth annual Rural Fiber Expo in Annapolis, Maryland. The expo previewed the path forward for rural broadband connectivity efforts throughout the region.  At the Rural Fiber Expo, the CEOs of the member broadband cooperatives spoke about the challenges to the deployment of broadband in rural…

EMPOWER contract crews are installing vaults along the fiber route. EMPOWER Broadband, Inc. recently reached yet another significant milestone, connecting its 1,000th customer in Halifax County to high-speed broadband service utilizing fiber-optic technology. The telecommunications company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative (MEC), currently serves subscribers in Halifax, Charlotte, Mecklenburg, Brunswick, and Greensville counties. Thanks to its partners along the way – the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, the Department of Housing and Community Development, Southside Planning District Commission and the counties that have all partnered to make this a reality. EMPOWER is steadily growing, helping close the digital divide…

Denton, Md – Choptank Fiber, a subsidiary of Choptank Electric Cooperative, has announced it will double the size of its financial support program for broadband fiber customers that qualify.  “Everyone deserves access to the world made available through high quality internet,” explains Mike Malandro, Choptank’s President & CEO. “Choptank Fiber was created to bring that access to residents on the Eastern Shore. We have increased our support to $30 per month for those who are income-challenged to make sure they can get service when it becomes available.”  The Low-Income Access Program (LIAP) was created when Choptank Fiber launched its service…

By Melissa Gay, Vice-President, Communications and Member Services, Central Virginia Electric Cooperative. On Feb. 23, U.S. Senator Mark Warner joined Firefly Fiber Broadband, along with its board of directors, staff and project partners, for a luncheon at Fifty-Third Winery in Louisa County, Va., to celebrate local broadband connection progress. Warner spoke to the long-term value of broadband in rural Louisa County and the importance of the investment to its residents. “It brings and attracts new opportunities, and it gives kids at least the choice to stay in the community that they love,” he said about broadband in rural areas. More than…

By Dolores Cabaniss, Public Relations Specialist, Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative EMPOWER Broadband, Inc. recently reached a significant milestone, connecting its 5,000th customer to high-speed broadband service utilizing fiber-optic technology. The telecommunications company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative (MEC), currently serves subscribers in Halifax, Charlotte, Mecklenburg, Brunswick, and Greensville counties. Established in 2018, EMPOWER is steadily growing, helping close the digital divide and changing the lives and communities of the families, farms and businesses it proudly serves. “As we celebrate this important milestone, EMPOWER is a shining example of all that is possible,” said John Lee, president and CEO of EMPOWER…

By Staff Reports, Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 30, 2023 RICHMOND, VA- Last week, the Association of American Railroads filed a lawsuit further impeding the construction and deployment of broadband throughout Virginia. Today, the Virginia Maryland Delaware Association of Broadband Cooperatives(VMDABC) is responding and laying out what is at stake for the 200,000 Virginians waiting for broadband access. Click here for the full press release

By Staff Reports, Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives Published: February 27, 2023 After almost two months of negotiation and debate, legislators adjourned the 2023 Virginia General Assembly Session on Saturday without a budget. While some business of the Commonwealth is left unfinished, Virginia’s electric cooperatives had resounding victories and made great strides in our legislative agenda.   This year, VMDAEC’s government affairs staff and legislative liaisons from Virginia’s co-ops worked diligently to pass two signature pieces of legislation, while supporting, amending and defeating several others that impact the cooperative industry. Click here for full article

By Staff Reports, Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives Published: February 27, 2023 In 2019, county, state and federal dignitaries celebrated as USDA announced a $3.8M fiber expansion awarded to EMPOWER Broadband to serve southern Brunswick County. This highly successful project was completed this winter and brings high-speed fiber internet three years ahead of schedule. FacebookEmailMessengerPrintFriendlyShare Following only three short years, Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative, along with its wholly owned subsidiary, EMPOWER Broadband, is pleased to announce it has met its obligation in the Connect America Fund II Auction to fully deploy fiber-to-the-premises in south-central and southwest Brunswick County, which includes…

By Gary Wood, Special to The Daily Progress Published: January 31, 2023 While there are so many hot button issues that dominate our TVs, there’s one that isn’t controversial — or at least it shouldn’t be: broadband access. Electric cooperatives and their broadband affiliates like Firefly, where I am manager, have worked tirelessly to deliver it. Collectively, our efforts have brought the internet to over 30,000 Virginians since 2017. But there’s more work to be done, and we need legislators’ help. Click here for full article

Leaning Right and Turning Left with Sadler and the Senator When you give this electrifying episode a listen, you will find that the rural electric co-ops efforts are making amazing changes to Virginia’s rural areas that are just so very critical for the future of our Commonwealth. Click here for full podcast

Published: January 31, 2023 Broadband legislation advances through Senate and House Committees, with the Senate bill passing a full floor vote on Tuesday The Virginia Senate has advanced SB 1029, sponsored by Sen. Bill Stanley, passing with overwhelming, bipartisan support. Legislators of all political affiliations, backgrounds and geographic regions are echoing Cooperatives’ commitment to ensuring every Virginian — particularly in rural and remote Virginia — has access to broadband.  Click here for full article