Long Drop Broadband Program Debuts in Stafford County

For some Stafford County residents, reliable broadband connections remain out of reach because their homes are situated beyond the standard connection drop length from existing telecommunications infrastructure. In simple terms, their houses are more than 200 feet off the road where internet service provider lines end. To help address this issue, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (VHCD) offers a program designed to assist eligible homeowners in getting connected. So far, three Stafford residents have been approved and received a combined total of $123,919 in funding to make broadband a reality.

One of these residents is Stafford County Deputy A.J. Layug. His home is located about a tenth of a mile from the main road. When Comcast conducted a site survey in 2017, they estimated that it would cost him around $12,000 to extend broadband service to his home. When he inquired again in February 2024, the price had dropped to $7,000-but still, both costs were far beyond his budget. Layug has relied on an AT&T hotspot for his internet needs for the last seven years. Fortunately, he heard from a neighbor about VHCD's Line Extension Customer Assistance Program (LECAP).

LECAP works by subsidizing the cost of extending broadband services to homes where residents earn less than $170,340 annually. Renters can also benefit from the program based on their individual income. After submitting an application, approved residents are matched with a state-certified company to complete the necessary construction, with the state covering the cost. The only action required from homeowners is to apply.

Layug applied and was accepted into the program within a week. The state contacted Comcast on his behalf, and soon after, Comcast reached out to begin the process. Due to complications in securing an easement with a neighboring property, Comcast had to run the lines overhead to Layug's home, which delayed the installation. However, once the lines were in place, his high-speed internet was connected within just three days.

For Layug and his young family, high-speed internet has become essential. His wife is preparing to transition to working from home, and their two children are soon to start completing school work online. Despite the frustration of not having internet access for years, Layug chose not to move because the home holds sentimental value-it is where his children grew up and where he and his wife got married. He attributes his success in connecting to his persistence in following up with Comcast.

To find out more about the LECAP program and see if you qualify, visit www.dhcd.virginia.gov/lecap.