Caroline County gives progress update on VADI 2023 broadband expansion; Verizon Fios build complete

David Sadler, director of information technology for Caroline County and project manager for VADI 2023, gave a public update on the county's broadband expansion, saying the Verizon Fios build in western Caroline is complete and work continues on the Caroline East VADI 2023 project.

The update matters because the projects aim to extend fiber-based internet to thousands of addresses across the county. Sadler said the Verizon build covered about 815 addresses in western Caroline and included more than 62 miles of new fiber; he said "this project completed ahead of schedule." He also said first service availability for that Verizon build began in June 2024 and 100% of the addresses were open for sale by February 2025. Sadler provided sign-up information for residents: Xfinity (Comcast) customers can visit www.xfinity.com or call +1 (877) 338-9791; Verizon Fios customers can visit verizon.com/fiosfaster or call +1 (888) 548-5833; Breezeline customers can visit www.breezeline.com or call +1 (888) 536-9600.

Sadler described expected provider footprints and early-service areas. He said Comcast's estimated service footprint is concentrated in western Caroline — defined in the presentation as areas west of Route 1 and Route 95, including Ladysmith and Carmel Church — and listed communities in Comcast's estimated footprint such as Ladysmith Village, Lake Landor, Pendleton, Lake Caroline, Belmont and Caroline Pines. He said Breezeline serves parts of eastern Caroline, including areas near Bowling Green, Port Royal, Baldy and Panola.

On the Caroline East VADI 2023 project, Sadler said the initial design is complete but some redesign work is under way to avoid high-cost pole attachments. He reported that, since January 2024, 143 of an anticipated 439 miles of fiber for that project had been constructed and that 275 of 3,910 locations now have internet service for the first time. He said specific neighborhoods targeted for early service include Elavon, Tigner, Central Pointe, Liberty Fork, Beverly, Gether, Bagby and Schumansville; areas targeted for early fall service include Frog Level, Larnie, Covingston's Corner, Doggett's Fork, Campbell's Corner and Kemp's Corner; remaining areas are scheduled for completion next year.

Sadler flagged two current project risks: "REC pole attachment delays and VDOT permitting delays" and said the team continues to monitor them. He said four railroad crossings are required to complete service to all residents; three crossings are finished and the fourth is in progress. On the project timeline, he said the work "has been going on for over 3 years" and that "at this time, no extension of this project is necessary."

For more information, Sadler directed residents to the county broadband page at www.c0.caroline.va.us (click the Broadband in Caroline button) and said users can submit questions through the site; he said submitted questions "will be sent to me, and I will get back to you as soon as we can with the correct and up to date information." He also announced the next broadband update is scheduled for Monday in July at 7 p.m., streamed via YouTube.

The report was presented as an informational update; no motions or votes were recorded during the remarks.