RICHMOND — After the release of Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s 2019-20 biennial budget, which includes an increase in rural broadband funding, advocates of rural broadband announced the formation of the Virginia Rural Broadband Coalition (VRBC).

“The VRBC represents the many stakeholders who have a role in developing policies to encourage broadband expansion across rural Virginia,” officials said in a press release.

According to a press release, independent efforts are important in highlighting the severity of the problem for state and local elected officials.

“However, they lack the impact of a single voice for greater broadband connection across rural Virginia,” officials said in the release.

“Access to reliable broadband is an economic imperative that will ensure that all of our children can keep pace with new technology as they learn, our businesses can sell globally, our entrepreneurs can compete and our workforce can prepare for the jobs of the 21st century,” McAuliffe said.

VRBC plans to work with the General Assembly and the new administration by giving one coordinated, sustained voice for rural broadband deployment in Virginia.