Yuma Broadband Service Launch

November 12, 2009

Yuma, Virginia

          I am pleased to return to Yuma today to mark another major success in our effort to expand high-speed Internet services throughout Southwest Virginia. 

Today, we formally launch the Yuma community’s new broadband service, a project which will enable residents to receive affordable, high-speed Internet services. Additionally, a new public Internet access site connected to the new broadband network has been established here at the Yuma Ruritan Club building.

Last year, I gathered with some of you here today to announce a federal grant of $999,207 provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service to the Scott County Telephone Cooperative to construct a fiber to the premise network to provide high speed Internet services to Yuma. As a result of the federal funding, 291 homes and businesses in the Yuma community will gain access to affordable high-speed Internet services. To complete the project, the Scott County Telephone Cooperative has provided a local match of $254,930 including in-kind services. 

In addition, the Yuma Fire and Rescue Department and Yuma Elementary School will receive the service at no charge. Also, beginning today, high speed Internet services are available at the Community Access Center, which has been established here in the Yuma Ruritan Club building.

          The Computer Access Center includes 10 new computer workstations outfitted with the latest computer equipment. The Center provides high-speed Internet services to residents at convenient times. Classes and seminars will also be offered to local residents by Mountain Empire Community College at the Center to provide an introduction to computers and the Internet to interested community residents. Scott County Telephone Cooperative will soon be hiring a computer lab technician to assist residents at the Center.

          Scott County Telephone Cooperative will begin connecting individual customers in December. To order the service, residents may call 276-452-9119.

More than fifteen years ago, I encouraged local governments throughout the Ninth District to find a means of deploying broadband networks so that affordable high-speed Internet access would be available to businesses and residents throughout our region.  My goal in making this recommendation was to set our region apart in comparison to other rural areas of the nation, to make us more attractive than the typical rural region to industries looking to expand their operations into new locations, and to create technology-based jobs for Southwest Virginians.

          Today, I am pleased to note that many of the communities in our region are making great strides in the deployment of broadband networks. Scott County Telephone Cooperative has had success providing Internet services throughout the County. For example, with the assistance of a grant from the Virginia Tobacco Commission, the Cooperative has constructed a fiber network from Big Moccasin on Route 71 to McConnell’s Store in Gate City and from Gate City to Weber City, Yuma Road and McGee’s store. It is this fiber optic network that has enabled the fiber to the premise network to be constructed in the Yuma community. These two projects have made fiber to the premise available to nearly 1,000 residents in Scott County.

          Just as first canals, then railroads and then highways were the major arteries of commerce in earlier eras, in the 21^st Century, access to broadband will be a defining feature of economic success for rural communities. Step by positive step our expanding broadband infrastructure is assuring that Southwest Virginia’s communities will be at the center of economic opportunity.

          I would like to thank the excellent staff of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service. They have worked with Scott County officials and my office to make the success we mark today possible.

          I also want to recognize Bill Franklin, CEO of the Scott County Telephone Cooperative, for his leadership in expanding access to broadband services throughout Scott County.

          I would also like to thank Edsel Bellamy, current president, and Gary Arwood, former president, of the Yuma Ruritan club for their work to establish the Community Access Center.

          John Kilgore, chair of the Scott County Telephone Cooperative Board, and the other members of the Board deserve our thanks today for their outstanding efforts on behalf of Scott County residents.

          I would also like to extend my thanks to Joyce Davidson, who is a resident of Yuma. Joyce’s hard work helped advance this project. I would also like to mention the late Robert Winegar, who tirelessly worked to advance the Yuma community. In September, I announced federal funding to construct a wastewater system to serve the Yuma community, another project to which Robert had dedicated his time and efforts. The effects of Robert’s efforts for Yuma residents will be long lasting.

          Finally, I would like to recognize Laura Lee my Deputy Chief of Staff for the work she has performed for this project.  I place a high priority in my office in obtaining successes much like the one we celebrate today, and Laura’s work is vital to our efforts to deploy new broadband technology throughout Southwest Virginia.

          The broadband network serving Yuma residents is an example of what can be achieved when government officials at the local and federal levels work together and cooperate in aid of a common purpose.  For that cooperation and successful work in providing high-speed Internet service for the Yuma community, I want to commend all here and offer special congratulations to the residents who will be receiving this service.