Virginia legislators move to keep broadband, fiber optic cables safe, reliable
May 2026
by Kyle Shreve, Staff Writer
In today’s world, access to reliable, high-speed internet is no longer a luxury. It is necessary to everyday life. From providing for the essentials, such as education and healthcare, to supporting critical economic development for our localities, broadband plays a vital role in keeping our communities connected.
Across Virginia and Maryland, electric cooperatives have been deploying fiber to expand broadband access, especially in rural areas. Virginia has invested more than $875 million in state funding and $1.1 billion in federal funding to expand broadband infrastructure. Fiber networks now run alongside electric lines, strengthening connectivity and supporting local communities. As broadband access expands and infrastructure continues to be deployed, protecting and maintaining it is just as important as building it.
Fiber-optic cable is highly effective but also vulnerable to damage. The glass fibers inside can easily break, causing outages that affect entire communities. Repairs are disruptive and costly. Service interruptions can also interfere with critical communications, including emergency services.
That is why modernizing Virginia’s laws through legislation such as House Bill 317 and Senate Bill 743, patroned by Del. Kimberly Pope Adams and Sen. Lashrecse Aird, is so important. The Virginia General Assembly convened on Jan. 14 for its 2026 legislative session, and these bills were a priority for the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Broadband Cooperatives.
Virginia law makes it illegal to intentionally damage utility infrastructure such as electric and telephone lines. However, the law has not kept pace with rapid advancements in technology, and the protection did not clearly include broadband and fiber-optic cable.
This year’s bills update the law to reflect modern infrastructure by clearly including broadband and communications systems under the same protections that already apply to other utilities. These commonsense bills received bipartisan support and passed unanimously, reflecting how critical protecting broadband has become to our communities. If the legislation is signed by Virginia’s governor, it will go into effect on July 1, 2026.
The General Assembly also returns on April 23 to finalize the commonwealth’s biennial budget, and VMDABC supports continuing funding for the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative. This fund is an important tool for continuing broadband deployment through rural Virginia.
Reliable broadband networks must not only be built, but they also must be protected. That protection cannot depend on this legislation alone. It also depends on awareness and personal responsibility. Being mindful around power lines, especially during hunting season, and encouraging others to do the same helps protect the networks on which our communities rely.
Efforts such as the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources’ “Shoot at Wings, Not Wires” campaign help raise awareness and serve as a reminder to exercise caution and hunt safely around utility infrastructure.
These efforts are about protecting the connections we depend on every day, and through legislative or community education efforts, we are spreading the message that everyone must do their part to help protect our infrastructure.