[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6227926,"mediaKeyId","3478498-6e9152c2cff9e85fd53b508a0c8d7baf","parentId",3478498,"title","Providers say AEP make‑ready permits are the principal bottleneck as county broadband builds advance","audioSeconds",3092,"startMs",107000,"endMs",3199000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3478498-6e9152c2cff9e85fd53b508a0c8d7baf&start=107&end=3199","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3478498-6e9152c2cff9e85fd53b508a0c8d7baf/thumbnail_107000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6227926/Franklin-County/Virginia/Providers-say-AEP-makeready-permits-are-the-principal-bottleneck-as-county-broadband-builds-advance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227926-9981c921a2ca358348f0f52fdb1106d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771083254&Signature=RBSO4qw~7N49KMDVR248-Or42ZmOdDnIa3e3L5r4NVkGfO29c4C1~ubwEtQLyYf0STKjLoB2olYvukTenicwgTIISAGqmzKbI1OCu2qMvMDflWVIngxa6HceDLi1~0cN9AEIot7TFj3yt-r4IWtjosx9Or-f2OLEGm2n5Cq2VlxbMKvFuBiEy33okedbpEMLGSE1eWr3y7R8FBlFXM5TYSEdtSnhZ80z80NvCDZSsIIxaOdVzpOAkkT28UzEeaSkaF4Yp7Ub24wOCez-bzvTqqksxmU-4syCHBxEuWFnk862eHL6gBc7~7xYuNyrZaFlZC8gjjesTioiRpkF8wOImQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-24T01:10:00.067Z","article","Shentel, Appalachian Power, River Street and Zytel representatives told Franklin County officials that delays in Appalachian Power (AEP) make‑ready and pole‑permit work are the primary constraint slowing construction on several broadband projects funded through VADI and other programs.

Shentel project representative Jesse said Shentel’s 2022 project covers about 3,508 subsidized homes and remains substantially behind because many make‑ready permits are still outstanding. “We’ve submitted almost 11,000 pole permits,” Jesse said, and described a mix of cabinets already in service and clusters of locations that can’t be completed until AEP finishes clustered permits. He told the authority the build is 57% serviceable to date and that completing pending permits is the gating item for finishing by the October substantial‑completion deadline.

Appalachian Power’s Rob Mann told the authority the utility has added a project manager and eight additional crews assigned to Franklin County and is considering whether to accept Shentel’s offer to provide contractor crews under AEP oversight. “AP is committed to safe reliable power,” Mann said, adding that crews can be pulled for storm response and that storm work has taken crews away from make‑ready work. He said AEP is targeting completion of the currently queued permits by July 1.

River Street’s representative described a separate, middle‑mile project that depends on AEP’s pole work to carry fiber to River Street’s point‑of‑presence locations and then into customer drops. River Street has built some routes and reported about 58 locations already passable from neighboring counties, with first local customer activations expected in August once the AEP‑installed fiber is lit and River Street can energize its equipment.

Zytel’s chief operating officer, Rodney Graham, said Zytel’s 2024 award covers roughly 215 miles of fiber and more than 5,500 passings; he reported construction underway on multiple POPs and said Zytel expects to build 10–15 miles per month once crews shift from nearby Bedford County into Franklin County. Zytel said most of its plant will be underground and that several VDOT permits are already in hand for specific POP areas.

Authority members pressed AEP performance and asked for stronger, frequent reporting. A leading authority member said she was “extremely disappointed” with AEP’s multi‑year pace and requested weekly updates on permit approvals. County staff and providers agreed to supply weekly permit tallies and a short progress spreadsheet to the authority through the July target window.

Why it matters: county officials and residents blame permit delays for slow activation of funded broadband passes in rural areas. Providers say the work is ready to follow the permits; the county and providers asked AEP to prioritize contiguous clusters so crews can complete service areas without jumping among isolated permits.

What’s next: providers told the authority they will follow up immediately after AEP issues permissions, but they warned the July target remains at risk if crews are reassigned for storm response or if prioritized poles remain unapproved. The authority requested weekly permit‑approval reports from AEP and the providers until substantial completion is achieved.

Sources: verbatim reporting from meeting representatives Jesse (Shentel), Rob Mann (Appalachian Power), Rodney Graham (Zytel), and county staff at the Franklin County Broadband Authority meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Franklin County Board of Supervisors Meeting 05/20/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Shentel, Appalachian Power, River Street and Zytel representatives told Franklin County officials that delays in Appalachian Power make‑ready and pole permits are the primary constraint slowing several broadband builds, and providers said AEP expects to finish the queued permits by July but warned crews continue to be pulled for storm restoration.","taxTitle","Franklin County, Virginia","taxId",30976,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6227916,"Snow Creek residents and volunteers press supervisors over EMS staffing; chief says county is filling positions",152,9851000,10003000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3478498-6e9152c2cff9e85fd53b508a0c8d7baf&start=9851&end=10003","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3478498-6e9152c2cff9e85fd53b508a0c8d7baf/thumbnail_9851000.jpg","/articles/6227916/Franklin-County/Virginia/Snow-Creek-residents-and-volunteers-press-supervisors-over-EMS-staffing-chief-says-county-is-filling-positions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227916-0c39883543a703d8edd5749ba5382063/orig.mp4?Expires=1771083254&Signature=GMhqK5UdsuWV9Wrx9A1noqtrZHmunt3ME7Lc6mahgN7rBDet0l4~BW2JusU788QtTEeTaKX2z4i7hDmSuKZMuv3T4QS12LJE~LQIIZYmlJFemXg1aoDIbB17VJK87UH-FqI6IKRAgRkCFJZrN~itY9LnkKjMuWj3AgKFlLCftCPf9xb2-YzfZq7LONps7rLVI5EvxaJXAp1svt~cHNGGZtr3hn~-Utyz8Eeeg0uQvTCUJQRot7md0gWHSY7G8Dl-zER62Es4vqXEfwIhusPZXxWynSVXgY-6ABqfcTXK0tQOTktBV91Xyo35e-LBmUTae~UjJ5AUxYz6dyEzIsNbdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents, volunteer rescue personnel and county leaders clashed at the meeting over staffing at the Snow Creek rescue station after volunteers said career personnel previously assigned to the station were reassigned without notice.

Timmy Law, who identified himself as a Snow Creek Rescue Squad volunteer and captain, said changes left the community with longer response times and that Snow Creek’s volunteers and residents feel “disregarded.” “We are not going to stop until this wrong is made right,” Law told supervisors during public comment.

Franklin County Fire & EMS Chief Michael Fowler responded that Snow Creek, Callaway, Fort Mountain and other stations need staffing and that the department has been filling positions. Fowler said the service’s pipeline of applicants is improving and that county hiring has brought the fleet closer to full staffed trucks than a year ago. He asked supervisors and the public for patience while newly hired personnel complete required certifications and training. “I will get staff in Snow Creek and I am working on that,” Fowler said, while also noting that multiple stations across the county have concurrent needs.

During earlier authority and staff presentations, county leaders discussed resource and coverage planning for fire and EMS, and supervisors said they would press for clearer schedules and reporting from the public safety director and the chief. Snow Creek volunteers and residents at the meeting asked the board to investigate reassignments and requested documentation of personnel decisions and timelines.

Why it matters: Snow Creek is a remote district in the county; volunteers say they stepped up to add living quarters for career staff and then lost assigned career personnel. That raised local concerns about response times for medical and fire emergencies. County and department leaders said they are working to increase hiring and unit availability but acknowledged that building a stable, certified career workforce takes time.

What’s next: Supervisors asked staff to provide information on staffing levels and to include Snow Creek in weekly or regular reporting of staffing and unit availability. Chief Fowler said the department will continue recruitment and training to bring units to full staffed status.","Captain of Snow Creek Rescue and local residents said recent reassignments of career personnel have reduced local EMS coverage and urged the board to investigate; the county chief said hiring is under way and the agency has made progress but multiple stations remain short of career staffing.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6227921,"County moves to buy former Modicraft site for CTE center; planners, schools and finance advisers outline next steps",1645,6421000,8066000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3478498-6e9152c2cff9e85fd53b508a0c8d7baf&start=6421&end=8066","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3478498-6e9152c2cff9e85fd53b508a0c8d7baf/thumbnail_6421000.jpg","/articles/6227921/Franklin-County/Virginia/County-moves-to-buy-former-Modicraft-site-for-CTE-center-planners-schools-and-finance-advisers-outline-next-steps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227921-4efe0cdc7b57fb83073d32805c0ecb66/orig.mp4?Expires=1771083254&Signature=XNbEB2ekdiBCIVD~p9lswx4kQ4BTyUkfu79KG-rsz4I~E-cvp4oBClHm7tEUps9~sV88fAMeWg8nqGx439AYV39MqC9g1sHFMpbKJxLJuBmMXZsfGROuDkWOK0aUbMAoEyGKHMAS1K9aE2ipKiB-hbtNoyYedQ6cnAeLhvWjx4v8zncPFtc28B4dhf2VuWVBEO1RCkonl~172Rxzctx8phQQAUK~EqNqASAryhk67C4x~TQ-X79Tk8mI5BHvP5-tb3WG3SBgj97I4V1-6Kby~lzk68Y8qU1nTc5-r~YB0OT5gZWTvrpyhWfqpALZJDiQh-8w85hev-HgV1aULUuc-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Franklin County supervisors voted to exercise an option to acquire the former Modicraft property and authorized the county administrator to sign the necessary documents as part of a broader plan to house a new career and technical education (CTE) center and related county facilities.

County and school officials outlined why the modular factory site is being considered: the building’s large shell, separated office space, and adjacent acreage could permit adaptive reuse for a CTE campus while preserving room for an industrial pad on the rear parcel.

Franklin County Schools Superintendent Dr. Sear s told the board that current CTE demand outstrips capacity. The division is turning away students from programs such as building trades, HVAC, automotive, and health occupations because lab and classroom space at the high school is limited. “If we were able to facilitate more enrollment,” Dr. Sears said, “we could provide hundreds more slots over time.” The school plans to keep some programs on the high school campus, such as early childhood education, and move trade‑intensive programs to the new facility. Superintendent and CTE director outlined transportation plans in which students would board buses at the main high school campus and be transferred to the CTE site; the division estimated it would need roughly six or seven buses for morning shuttles, with fewer buses between blocks during the day.

Financial advisers from Davenport & Company presented a financing approach that calls for roughly $20 million of interim debt to purchase the property and cover initial engineering and due diligence. David Rose, the county’s financial advisor, said the county’s strong fiscal standing — including a sizable unassigned fund balance and recent credit‑rating upgrades — makes interim borrowing feasible “without asking for additional dollars from the general fund” or raising current tax rates. Rose outlined a plan to close an interim financing facility this summer and convert to long‑term financing later, with construction financing to follow once project scope and grant opportunities are clearer.

Supervisors and town officials noted concerns about traffic, zoning, and impacts on the Rocky Mount community. County planners and school leaders said the modular‑factory site could be adapted so that public safety administrative offices, a 9‑1‑1 dispatch center, and the CTE facility are separated on the footprint and traffic flows can be managed with dedicated access and bus loops. County staff proposed a July workforce summit and a possible field trip to Patrick & Henry County’s Patriot Center CTE facility so local leaders can review an example of a comparable regional facility.

Why it matters: supervisors said the Modicraft site offers a potentially large cost saving compared with building a new CTE center on the high school campus, where initial cost estimates previously reached tens of millions of dollars. The board’s vote to exercise the option moves the county from planning into an acquisition and due‑diligence phase. The financial plan presented aims to limit short‑term tax impacts by using interim borrowing and pursuing grants and partnerships.

What’s next: staff will proceed with environmental and engineering due diligence, advance the interim financing vehicle, and coordinate with Rocky Mount town officials on zoning or text amendments that would allow a CTE and supporting uses on the industrial park parcel. The board said it will schedule a follow‑up work session for debt and capital planning.","The Board voted to exercise an option to acquire the Modicraft parcels and authorized the county administrator to sign closing documents; the school division described how a repurposed facility could centralize career and technical education programs and financial advisers outlined an interim financing plan that aims to avoid raising tax rates.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Providers say AEP make‑ready permits are the principal bottleneck as county broadband builds advance

Snow Creek residents and volunteers press supervisors over EMS staffing; chief says county is filling positions

County moves to buy former Modicraft site for CTE center; planners, schools and finance advisers outline next steps