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Franklin County sets Aug. 15 deadline for AEP make-ready as broadband rollout lags
Summary
After months of progress and permit backlogs, the Franklin County authority voted unanimously to set an Aug. 15 deadline for Appalachian Power to finish make‑ready work tied to the county’s VADI broadband projects and to restore weekly status reports.
Franklin County supervisors on July 15 set an Aug. 15 deadline for Appalachian Power to complete make‑ready work for parts of the county’s Volk‑Assisted Digital Infrastructure (VADI) broadband projects and voted to reinstate weekly progress reports. The board also directed staff to reengage AEP leadership and the state regulator if deadlines are missed.
Supervisors took the step after receiving updates from county staff and internet providers that while fiber build and cabinet work are substantially complete in some zones, roughly 900 utility pole permits remained outstanding in mid‑July. County staff, the ISP Chante|Shentel, and Appalachian Power described a mix of challenges: permit backlogs, tree‑clearing costs, broken specialized track machines needed to reach remote poles, and crews pulled off for storm response.
The board’s action followed presentations from county staff, company representatives and AEP distribution leadership. County staff reported VADI project spending at roughly 90% of the currently budgeted total and said that, as of the meeting, about 2,035 homes had broadband in service and 1,188 were in active construction. Chante|Shentel said it expects about 550 of those under‑construction locations to be serviceable by September if the needed permits and AEP work are completed.
Why it matters: The VADI program was funded with a mix of state, county and private investment to deliver broadband to underserved parts of the county. Delays in make‑ready — the preparatory pole and right‑of‑way work performed by the electric utility before ISPs attach cable — have slowed activations and placed the project at risk of missing contract deadlines later this year.
At the meeting, Appalachian Power said the July target would not be met and that crews and equipment breakdowns had reduced progress in early July. AEP representatives said they are working with county project managers to escalate the outstanding permit packages and anticipated additional progress in the weeks following the meeting.
Board members criticized the pace and asked staff to demand better communication and outcomes. The board approved a motion (mover: Authority member; second: Supervisor Quinn) to: 1) set Aug. 15 as a firm internal deadline for AEP’s make‑ready completion on the impacted pole sections; 2) reinstate weekly written reports to county staff and the authority; and 3) ask staff to reach back to AEP leadership and the State Corporation Commission (the utility regulator) and to bring AEP leadership back to the August broadband meeting.
Outcome: The motion carried unanimously. The board recorded concern that some neighborhoods — particularly those on the initial build routes — have seen little activation despite funds spent and time elapsed, and asked for a specific update at the board’s August meeting immediately following the Aug. 15 deadline.
What’s next: County staff said they will continue weekly coordination meetings with AEP and the ISPs. The board signaled it will ask for the AEP president and regulator engagement if progress is not visible after the new deadline. Any milestone slips or formal change requests to grant timelines will be reported to the board.
