County broadband project nears completion; ~4,800 homes activated under VADi/Charter build

County officials and the broadband contractor reported progress on the VADi- and Charter-partnered build to expand high-speed internet across Southampton County. The contractor said approximately 4,800 homes have been activated, with roughly 789 miles of network built so far. The Valley build contract is scheduled to be complete on July 7, 2025.

The presenter said the project team is conducting a passings reconciliation that compares constructed addresses to those included in the VADi grant; some addresses are excluded because the county could not secure easements across neighboring private parcels. The presenter thanked County liaison Carl Heck and noted a steering committee meets regularly to resolve service issues and homeowner complaints.

Supervisors and staff discussed remaining extensions and the possibility of reusing unused budget to serve additional residences if reconciliation identifies funds available. County staff indicated they would coordinate next steps and inform the board if additional local funding were required to reach outstanding households.