After years of delays and unmet promises, Culpeper County (VA) has officially terminated its contract with All Points Broadband (APB), a Leesburg-based company that was contracted to bring high-speed internet to 4,300 underserved rural addresses. The county made the decision after only one home had been connected since the partnership began in 2020, according to the Culpeper Star-Exponent.
The project, funded through a $34 million package from the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) and federal pandemic-era grants, included $8.6 million awarded in 2022. APB had committed to completing service connections by February 28, 2024, a deadline that was never met. The county had requested a funding extension through February 2025, but with minimal progress, the state contract expired.
In early March, the county officially terminated its agreement with APB and, with support from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), sought ways to preserve the grant funds. Those efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.
“The county will proceed as it deems appropriate to protect the interests of its citizens,” Thursday’s statement read, adding that legal remedies remain on the table and the county will seek a new qualified internet provider.
Board Chairman David Durr expressed frustration over APB’s failure to deliver. “We cannot continue to seek grant extensions without tangible progress on the ground,” he told the Star-Exponent.
County Administrator Sam McLearen reaffirmed the county’s commitment to broadband expansion, “We will continue to pursue new partnerships to achieve high-speed internet access for all residents.”
In response, an All Points spokesperson said the company had been instructed to stop work and notified customers via email. The message noted that while all design work was completed and Virginia Department of Transportation permits were pending, the project faced delays due to required modifications on utility poles that did not meet safety codes. The company ultimately shifted to an underground installation plan last year, supported by additional state grants.
“It is an unfortunate development that Culpeper County has halted a fully funded project,” the company stated, adding that unless the county reverses its decision, All Points will soon begin issuing refunds to customers who prepaid installation fees.
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