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In December 2021, Virginia’s then-Governor Ralph Northam announced a billion investment in universal broadband coverage. Through the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative program, grant awards were distributed to 13 underserved regions in the state, including Campbell County.

Companies such as RiverStreet Networks, Firefly Fiber Broadband, and Shentel were recipients of these grants and have been working on bringing fiber broadband to the area. The Campbell County Broadband Authority, which consists of members from the board of supervisors, recently received an update on the progress made by these companies.

Rob Taylor from RiverStreet Networks stated that construction is set to begin in the coming quarter, with engineers finalizing the fiber design and soon starting field staking. Gary Wood, president of Firefly Fiber Broadband, mentioned that the company has already sent out letters to residents in their service area, informing them about the upcoming fiber constructions and services available. They plan to hold a virtual town hall on October 26 and commence fiber construction within the next few weeks.

Jessica Wilmer from Shentel provided details about their two-year project to bring broadband to over 3,500 underserved homes and businesses. The estimated cost is around .4 million, with funding from the county, Shentel, and VATI. The goal is to complete construction by September 2024, covering designated service areas in Rustburg, Concord, Gladys, and Altavista.

Despite progress being made, there are still pending permits needed before construction can start. Wilmer explained that aerial attachments are causing challenges, as 70% of the build-out involves this method. However, the companies are committed to overcoming these obstacles and bringing reliable broadband to the community.

Residents within 2,500 feet of the road will have no installation costs initially, and connections are expected to begin in December or January.

For more information on these broadband projects in Campbell County, visit the county’s website.

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