Wise County Public Schools To Become First In Virginia To Utilize SpaceX Internet Services

Students in Wise County Virginia will become the first school district in Virginia to utilize entrepreneur, Elon Musks’ SpaceX to expand internet access in Wise County. Project Starlink will initially provide free internet service to 45 families of Wise County. As the network capabilities continue to grow, it will expand to serve an additional 90 Wise County families. Starlink is a constellation of satellites in low orbit that will deliver high speed internet to locations where it is unreliable, expensive or unavailable. According to School Superintendent Dr. Greg Mullins, the COVID-19 pandemic quickly created a situation to move schools to virtual instruction last March, but it was apparent a lack of broadband access is a crisis in Wise County. School officials are hoping SpaceX Starlink will close the digital divide in parts of southwest Virginia