Volunteer Energy gives county update on broadband builds, says state grant decisions likely in late summer

David Mercer of Volunteer Energy Inc. briefed the Bradley County Finance Committee on the company’s three ongoing broadband projects and recent state grant applications.

“Bradley 01 is in the left half of the county,” Mercer said, and reported the contractor has finished the Mahan Gap zone and that Mount Zion is “getting close to being finished.” He estimated Old Freewill is about 70% complete and White Oak about 20% complete. For Bradley 02 he said Tasso A and Tasso B were completed more than a year ago and that Chesto E Road should be finished and released to subscribers in “the next 4 to 6 weeks.”

Mercer described three grant applications the company submitted under the state’s large broadband program. He summarized the bids the county’s map shows: in Bradley 01 his company was the only bidder at $4,890,000; in Bradley 02 Volunteer Energy’s fiber bid was $3,410,000 while a wireless bidder (Zentail) bid $633,000 and AT&T bid $5,340,000; in Bradley 3 Volunteer Energy bid $5,020,000 and AT&T bid $6,840,000. Mercer said the state gives priority to wired fiber proposals over fixed‑wireless offerings and that, based on bids and past experience, he expects a decision in late summer or early fall.

The mayor and commissioners discussed the county’s $4 million allocation for broadband. Mercer said Volunteer Energy builds projects up front and then seeks reimbursement from grants: “DEC builds it up builds it out completely in its entirety, and then we just ask for… invoicing,” he said. Mercer and county leaders discussed using remaining county funds as a 50/50 match if the state’s grant timeline or awards require it; Mercer said the county can submit requests for reimbursement for completed portions of the McDonald area and other zones in the coming weeks.

The presentation also covered service inside the city of Cleveland. Mercer said Volunteer Energy will sign a memorandum of understanding with Cleveland Utilities where the utilities’ infrastructure serves addresses inside the city, and Volunteer Energy will build everything outside the municipality to comply with state law that prevents a provider from competing with a municipality.

No formal county vote was taken. Mercer said he will send the county invoices and subscriber counts requested by the mayor for ARPA reporting and to calculate how many households will gain access once the state awards are implemented.