Broadband Availability
The Mathews Broadband Advisory Board has been committed to helping the County pursue universal broadband coverage for every single resident. Mathews has made great strides in expanding services through supporting grant applications and projects from existing and new Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
Broadband Availability
The Mathews Broadband Advisory Board has been committed to helping the County pursue universal broadband coverage for every single resident. Mathews has made great strides in expanding services through supporting grant applications and projects from existing and new Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
High-speed broadband is currently defined as 100 Mbps download over 20 Mbps Upload. Just five years ago, most of the County did not have access to even 10Mbps/1Mbps service. Today, there are many more options available for residents to connect to the internet and use high-speed services for things such as virtual education, remote work, telehealth appointments, and even entertainment and smart home uses.
However, there is still much work to do…
To see what services are available to your address, you can use these links:
Cable/Fiber –
Mobile Home Internet (Cellular) –
(You may also rent a Verizon Mi-Fi hotspot to test your connection quality before signing up)
Satellite –
Federal Communications Commission’s twice-annually updated coverage map:
(If you know that this is inaccurate, you can submit a challenge for them to publish a correction. This is important for upcoming federal or state grant opportunities)
Broadband Expansion in Mathews - Timeline
Upcoming Broadband Developments in Mathews
2026
– RiverStreet to begin construction of fiber network in Gloucester and Mathews award areas, serving 2,500 locations. Tentative start is in June.
– Beaverlett and Gwynn’s island to be home to new cell towers
Past Broadband Improvements in Mathews
2025
– Riverstreet Network, a fiber internet provider based in North Carolina, was awarded 697 locations in Mathews to connect to high-speed home internet. They were awarded 10,000 locations in the entire Commonwealth. Their network will pass many homes in Mathews and provide the option for access to a great portion of the County.
– Construction of Bohannon and Hugin’s cell towers completed, with T-Mobile and Verizon expanding 4G and 5G service throughout portions of the County.
2024
– The county partnered with the Rescue Squads in Hudgins and Bohannon to build two cell towers on their property for public safety and the expansion of cellular service.
2023
– Mathews partnered with Caroline, Lancaster, and Middlesex Counties to work with Breezeline in the preparation of a VATI grant, which was subsequently awarded and connected 430 people in the County with high-speed internet access.
2022
– Mathews utilized American Rescue Plan Act funding to install 8 total solar smart poles around the county, which would provide public Wi-Fi access during the lockdowns, enabling people to remote work, virtually learn, and attend virtual appointments.
Digital Opportunity
Digital Opportunity is the ability for citizens and businesses alike to be empowered to take full advantage of high-speed broadband service, once available to them.
Mathews County sits on a peninsula in the Middle Peninsula of coastal Virginia – a place defined by its waterways, tight-knit communities, working watermen, and deep historical roots. Like many rural Virginia counties, it also faces a persistent challenge: the digital divide. Reliable, affordable high-speed internet is not a luxury in today’s economy – it is a necessity to modern life. Digital opportunity means that every resident of Mathews County – a student doing homework, a waterman managing a small business, a senior scheduling a telehealth appointment, or a job seeker updating a resume – has the tools, skills, and affordable access they need to participate fully in modern life.
Closing the digital divide in a rural, geographically isolated county like Mathews requires addressing three interconnected gaps: access (physical broadband infrastructure), affordability (low-cost plans and devices), and digital literacy (the skills to navigate the online world confidently and safely). The good news is that Mathews County is not alone in this effort. Local institutions, state programs, and federal initiatives are building pathways toward a more connected community – one household at a time.
Resources for Mathews County Residents
Local
Mathews Memorial Library – Digital Literacy Classes – The library offers digital literacy classes and public computers, along with free Wi-Fi available inside the building, in the courtyard, and in areas near the front and rear entrances. It’s a key community hub for residents without home internet.
Mathews Memorial Library – Public Computers & Wi-Fi – The library offers two wireless networks: an open, speed-limited WiFi available 24/7 at no charge, and a secure WiFi network providing full broadband speed for library card holders.
Mathews Memorial Library — Employment Assistance — The library provides access to the Virginia Workforce Connection and other job search tools for residents seeking work or career transitions online.
State of Virginia
Virginia DHCD Digital Opportunity Page — Virginia’s Department of Housing and Community Development administers the Digital Skills, Literacy, and Device (DSLD) Grant Program and the Broadband Affordability and Adoption Planning Grant Program, designed to improve access and digital skills statewide.
Virginia Broadband (Digital Virginia) — Virginia is developing a centralized digital resources tool where users can search for affordable service plans, device refurbishment programs, local libraries, and digital literacy courses.
Virginia Broadband (Digital Virginia) — Virginia is developing a centralized digital resources tool where users can search for affordable service plans, device refurbishment programs, local libraries, and digital literacy courses.
Federal & Affordability Programs
FCC Lifeline Program — The FCC’s Lifeline program provides a $9.25/month discount on phone or internet service for qualifying low-income households and remains one of the primary federal affordability tools now that the Affordable Connectivity Program has ended. Human-I-T
EveryoneOn — A nonprofit that connects low-income families with low-cost internet offers and digital literacy resources by ZIP code — useful for Mathews residents exploring their options.
GetInternet.gov — The federal portal for finding available broadband assistance programs by address, including Lifeline-eligible providers serving rural Virginia.
Virginia Line Extension Customer Assistance Program (LECAP) — LECAP is designed to help low-to-moderate-income residents connect to broadband when their home sits beyond an internet service provider’s standard connection distance from existing infrastructure. In rural areas like Mathews County, where homes are often set back from roadways, special construction costs to extend broadband to these locations can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars — a barrier LECAP helps eliminate.
Mathews County just created its own Digital Opportunity Plan
download it using the link below!
Mathews Digital Opportunity Plan Project
As an outcome of the planning process, four projects were recommended to help Mathews Residents access resources and gain digital skills:
Mathews Memorial Library Digital Literacy Class Expansion
In addition to the basic digital skills classes that are currently available at the library, such as computer, Microsoft Office, iPhone, and Android basics, it is imperative to bring awareness to how to use modern technologies safely and effectively. Classes focusing on Artificial Intelligence platforms, scam awareness, broadband terminology, Teams and Zoom tutorials, cybersecurity, and parental controls, to name a few.
Mathews Memorial Library Telehealth Device Rental
The library aims to be a technology resource hub for the county in a greater capacity than it already is. Just like the Mi-Fis to go, the library would like to have telemedicine kits for rental, as well as a noise-proof privacy pod for residents to schedule an appointment with full capacity in-library.
Middle Peninsula Digital Navigator with PCs for People
Along with Gloucester and Middlesex Counties, Mathews would partner with PCs for People to find a centrally located location where a “Digital Navigator” and PCs for People can operate. The Digital Navigator will be a person who will act as “live tech support” for the region, building rapport with individuals and making house calls or virtual appointments to help troubleshoot issues, set up technology, teach classes at the libraries, and build relationships with community organizations to facilitate technology support and other programs.
PCs for People is a non-profit organization that operates nationwide, partnering with businesses to refurbish their old equipment and sell computers, laptops, and cell phones to people who have issues affording these devices. They have just opened up a main warehouse in Hampton, VA, so a location in the Middle Peninsula would enable residents easier access to these devices. PCs for People
Mathews Public School Tiny “Smart” Home Project
Mathews Public Schools is looking to revitalize its woodshop program by introducing a four-year curriculum, teaching students the process of constructing a tiny home (with electrical and plumbing), and project management skills. Supported by local leaders and entrepreneurs, this aims to instill trade and business skills in the next generation of Mathews students and make MPS stand out as a gem of Virginia. The submitted grant involved the smart home layer, procuring smart appliances, lighting, and cameras (among other tech) in order to teach students how to install and use these items, as well as letting the final product serve as a demonstration vehicle for residents to experience this technology for themselves.
Other Resources
Here is a list of relevant links and resources that may be useful to learn about broadband or the County’s efforts:
More to come…