Here’s one of those things that represents the confluence of politics and policy — and sheds a lot of light on, well, lots of things.

Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, was up in the Alleghany Highlands on Wednesday, where nTelos officials announced plans to bring broadband to the region. That initiative, by the way, involved $8 million in federal funds from the stimulus package.

The company explains more in this release posted on the Blue Ridge Business Journal — along with some photos of company officials making the announcement. And, of course, the congressman, who, we should point out, is facing a spirited challenge by Republican Morgan Griffith.

In a vacuum, you might be wondering: Why is the stimulus package paying for this? If so, we refer you to our Sept. 2 post which looked at the policy decisions behind some of stimulus appropriations, and how they relate to Western Virginia.