Fiber Broadband Connection Coming to King & Queen County, VA
WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA, NOVEMBER 9, 2021. RiverStreet Networks is bringing one of the most advanced
fiber optic internet technologies to King and Queen County, VA. Many state and local representatives participated in the
groundbreaking ceremony held at the Farmer’s Market on Lewis B. Puller Highway in Shackleford, VA.
The King and Queen County FTTH project is countywide. It is estimated that over 500 miles of fiber will be installed to
pass the 3,832 locations in the County at a cost just over $18 million. The funding for this project has been supplied by
multiple federal, state, and local sources. There is over $5 million grant award from the FCC CAF II auction. Virginia
DHCD has supplied almost $6 million in grant funds from two different VATI grants. King and Queen County
approximately $3.1 million in grant matching funds as well as $700,000 in CARES funds to aid in construction.
Additionally, the Rappahannock Indian Tribe has provided $195,000 in CARES funds to aid in construction. RiverStreet
Networks has allocated approximately $4 million of their $48 million USDA Reconnect loan and company capital for this
project.
State and local officials across Virginia are working together with RiverStreet Networks to make high speed internet a
reality for the community of King and Queen County, VA. Residents and businesses will benefit by having internet access
to learn and work from home, attend telemedicine appointments, connect with relatives and much more. RiverStreet
Networks’ commitment to bring fast and reliable internet to the unserved and underserved communities is one step closer
to closing the digital divide in rural America.
Today’s ground-breaking ceremony symbolizes the start of the fiber build work, with seven anchor institutions recently
connected with fiber internet. Construction started in early 2021 with Lawson-Marriott Elementary School, King and Queen
Elementary School and Central High School converted to fiber during the summer of 2021. In addition, the King and
Queen Courthouse, King and Queen County Board of Education, King and Queen County Library and the King and
Queen County Sheriff’s Office have been switched to the new fiber network. When the project is completed, more than
3,800 locations will have access to the fiber network. Follow the progress on our website at
https://myriverstreet.net/king-and-queen-fiber-build. Our customer service representatives are available Monday through
Friday, 8:00am to 6:00pm for assistance.
King and Queen County’s Broadband project is the beginning of a multi-phased opportunity in 14 additional counties
located in South Central Virginia to pass more than 13,400 homes, businesses and other anchor institutions with fiber
optic broadband service.
RiverStreet Networks, a leader in the broadband industry, is thrilled and prepared to bring the same winning formula of
excellent customer service combined with high-speed internet to King and Queen County. “With technology evolving
faster and faster, users demand more bandwidth and faster internet connections. The internet is vital for everyone’s
success. Almost everything we do in our daily lives can be done over the internet” states Eric Cramer, CEO, and
President of RiverStreet Networks. “High-speed internet is becoming the focus of communication.”
Located in the foothills of North Carolina, RiverStreet Networks, a subsidiary of Wilkes Telephone Membership, started in
1951 as a local cooperative to serve rural Wilkes County, NC. After completing an award-winning Fiber-to-The-Home
network to all its members, RiverStreet Networks was established to offer state-of-the art technology to areas outside of
the traditional market. With 70 years of experience, RiverStreet Networks remains committed to bringing high speed
internet to the unserved and underserved communities.