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Next 5 reports 133 miles of fiber built in Halifax County; more projects planned for 2026
Summary
Next 5 (provider) told the board that fiber passes now reach over 133 miles in Halifax County, with additional northwest and central projects planned for 2026 that will add roughly 300 miles of fiber and several thousand 'passings' (homes/businesses passed).
A Next 5 broadband representative updated the Halifax County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 6 about completed and forthcoming fiber builds inside the county and about federal and state grant processes.
Agency representative Sarah Kingdon, grant and compliance coordinator for the provider, said the company has completed two Roanoke Rapids projects (West and Southeast), together passing about 10,065 homes and businesses, and has built approximately 133 miles of fiber in the county to date. Kingdon said Next 5 holds conditional awards from the state/federal programs and expects more definitive federal awards by late 2025 or early 2026.
Kingdon outlined projects the company intends to build in 2026: a predominantly underground Halifax Northwest build (about 2,490 passings and just under 100 miles of fiber) and a Halifax Central/Southeast project (about 3,000 passings and roughly 230 miles of fiber). She cautioned that construction schedules remain contingent on contractor availability and permitting and that the Roanoke Rapids builds were completed in December 2024 while other builds are planned to start in early 2026 with completion later that year.
Kingdon also described non‑fiber activities: local beautification and community days, participation in Lifeline discounts (a $9.25/month lifeline benefit through the provider), and local outreach at parades and community events. She invited commissioners to provide community contacts and said customer‑facing design maps can be supplied for more precise address‑level availability questions.
Commissioners asked where the northwest project would land and whether there is a local Next 5 office or customer site; Kingdon said the company maintains a local presence with offices in Rich Square and Chowan County and offered to provide map links and point‑of‑contact information to county staff.
Ending
Next 5 said it will provide address‑level maps and a point of contact for local customers and that construction timing will be updated as contractor availability and grant awards are finalized.
