WASHINGTON, DC – Broadband for America (BfA)’s Virginia Chapter, which includes a number of key business and community leaders such as former state Senator and past President of the Virginia Tobacco Commission Charles Hawkins; Ben Davenport, former Chair of the Board of Directors for the Virginia Chamber of Commerce; Dominic Melito, President of the Virginia Beach Education Association; Jane Cabarrus, Chair of the Northampton County NAACP; Delceno Miles, President of the Virginia Beach Minority Council; Dana Dickens, President of the Hampton Roads Partnership and Gaylene Kanoyton, President of the Urban League Guild of Hampton Roads, as well as numerous local and regional chambers of commerce – today congratulated the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the hard work and dedication it has shown in developing the National Broadband Plan (NBP). 
  
The statements below were released by Broadband for America (BfA) Virginia Chapter Members state Senator Ralph Northam and Tim Early, President of the Hampton Roads Technology Council:  
 

The Honorable Ralph Northam said, “We commend the work done by the Federal Communications Commission. Having a National Broadband Plan is a real achievement, but the heavy lifting is just starting. Our objective is very clear; we believe every Virginian should have access to broadband Internet. We look forward to working with our friends in government and in the private sector, as the only way to achieve the goal of universal access is through a public/private partnership. Broadband Internet means jobs, investment and opportunity and Virginia requires it to remain competitive in a 21st Century economy.”

 
“Access to broadband Internet is central to overcoming the economic and educational challenges confronting Virginia families.  With increased access to broadband, investment and opportunities will grow in the Commonwealth.  We applaud the effort of the Federal Communications Commission regarding the National Broadband Plan.  It is an important step in the process.  We all share the goal of making America and Virginia second to none in a digital economy, and we look forward to making that a reality,” said Tim Early, President and CEO of the Hampton Roads Technology Council.

Broadband for America (BfA) is a growing coalition of over 200 members ranging from independent consumer advocacy groups, to content and application providers, to the companies which build and maintain the Internet. The complete BfA membership list is available at: http://www.broadbandforamerica.com/about/members 

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