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Broadband: Lumos near finish for 1,900 addresses; Comcast and federal programs to target remaining gaps
Summary
County staff reported that Lumos’ fiber project serving about 1,900 homes is nearing completion, Comcast has a VTI project for about 60 Blue Ridge addresses, and a BED application could target remaining unserved pockets including Arcadia.
County staff provided an update on broadband deployment and funding partnerships during the meeting.
Ken (surname not specified) reported three active efforts: (1) a Lumos fiber build to serve approximately 1,900 homes (primarily in Buchanan, Fincastle and Blue Ridge) that is near completion and has a contract completion date of June 30; (2) a Comcast project under the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VTI) that will serve roughly 60 homes in the Blue Ridge District with a two-year completion window (right-of-way and utility coordination could affect schedule); and (3) a pending federal/Commonwealth Broadband Equity and Deployment (BED) application submitted by an internet service provider with a county letter of support that targets remaining unserved addresses — including about 600 addresses in the Arcadia area and roughly 1,000 addresses countywide still needing service.
Staff said the Lumos project has encountered right-of-way coordination issues with Appalachian Power and Norfolk Southern but that recent progress connecting the railroad and the power company should allow completion by June 30. When asked for timing on remaining Blue Ridge connections, staff reiterated that the Comcast VTI project was given a two-year window but may be completed sooner if right-of-way issues are resolved.
The county reported that when the broadband effort began in 2017 roughly a third of households had fiber access; staff said that figure is now approximately 90 percent of households having access to broadband fiber infrastructure, though about 1,000 addresses remain to be served.
Staff said they will continue to coordinate with providers and state and federal partners to close remaining gaps and will provide updates as projects reach completion or encounter delays.
