County of Bedford, Virginia
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Mission & Vision
The Bedford County Board of Supervisors has invested in broadband infrastructure to support economic growth, improve access to education and healthcare, and enhance overall quality of life for residents. Whether you live in town, on the lake, or on the farm, broadband opens opportunities.
Reliable high-speed internet is essential for:
- Attracting businesses
- Enabling remote work
- Supporting public safety functions
- Facilitating online learning
- Providing access to telehealth
- Keeping citizens informed and connected
Timeline
Bedford County experienced major broadband infrastructure growth between 2022-2025, following the receival of $25 million in state grants from the Department of Housing and Community Development’s Virginia Telecommunication Initiative.
The County partnered with ZiTel, Shentel, and RiverStreet Networks on three large expansion projects, and Verizon completed a smaller project in 2023. By late 2025/early 2026, all projects will be complete with around 15,000 previously unserved or underserved addresses now having access to high-speed internet. The initiative also spurred increased competition, prompting private broadband expansions from companies like Lumos and Comcast.
The federal government's Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program could help cover the final 1,600 unserved addresses in Bedford County. The timing and exact allocation of BEAD funding remains uncertain at this time.