MANASSAS, VA — The city of Manassas has achieved the recognition of a “fiber-friendly city” by an internet service rating website that advocates for improving broadband speed, access and affordability. More than 90 percent of Manassas residents have access to fiber broadband services, which is one of the benchmarks used by BroadbandNow in determining whether a city should be designated fiber-friendly.
Manassas has taken steps to strengthen connectivity through a variety of initiatives, including free Wi-Fi throughout Historic Downtown. The city has 23 internet providers, eight of whom offer residential service, achieving broadband access for 91.87 percent of residents.
“Connectivity and other technology considerations are an important piece of the puzzle for companies choosing Manassas as the new home for their business,” the city’s Department of Economic Development said Thursday in a news release. “In recent years, Manassas has emerged as an outstanding location for new, relocating and expanding businesses.”
According to BroadBandNow, the average download speed in Manassas is 120 percent faster than the average in Virginia and 67.5 percent faster than the national average.
In total, 1,687 cities and towns across the United States have been recognized as fiber-friendly, out of approximately 20,000 currently incorporated in the nation. The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and other entities have provided funding for many of the small towns in southwestern Virginia that were without high-speed internet access for so long but now have 100-percent broadband access.
- Grundy, 100 percent broadband access
- Vansant, 100 percent
- Oakwood, 100 percent
- Hurley, 100 percent
- Pocahantus, 100 percent
- Hiltons, 100 percent
- Swords Creek, 100 percent
- Clinchco, 100 percent
- Dante, 100 percent
- Oakton, 99.79 percent
- Fairfax Station, 99.66 percent
- Bland, 99.55 percent
- Burke, 99.52 percent
- Aldie, 99.39 percent
- Great Falls, 99.32 percent
- Dumfres, 99.24 percent
- Bristol, 99.21 percent
- Saltville, 99.12 percent
- Chantilly, 98.77 percent
- Dunn Loring, 98.75 percent
- Poquoson, 98.72 percent
- Meadowview, 98.60 percent
- Haysi, 98.56 percent
- Vienna, 98.06 percent
- Damascus, 97.80 percent
- Glade Spring, 97.51 percent
- Woodbridge, 97.33 percent
- Anandale, 97.14 percent
- Lorton, 97.12 percent
- Springfield, 96.60 percent
- Midlothian, 96.27 percent
- Leesburg, 96.07 percent
- Sterling, 95.99 percent
- Clifton, 95.89 percent
- Sandston, 95.22 percent
- McLean, 95.05 percent
- Centreville, 94.29 percent
- Reston, 93.92 percent
- Herndon, 93.50 percent
- Abingdon, 93.50 percent
- Cleveland, 93.46 percent
- Jewell Ridge, 93.02 percent
- Ewing, 92.72 percent
- Haymarket, 92.64 percent
- Manassas, 91.87 percent
- Newport News, 91.02 percent
- Triangle, 90.87 percent
- Gate City, 90.46 percent
- Glen Allen, 90.38 percent
- Falls Church, 90.24 percent
BroadBandNow’s fiber-friendly city initiative is part of the website effort to highlight work being done by municipalities to expand high-speed internet access.