Comcast says make‑ready pole charges slowed Van Buren County broadband fill‑in work

Comcast representatives updated the Van Buren County Board of Commissioners on a rural broadband expansion project that targets short line extensions to fill service gaps in Southaven Township and nearby Paw Paw, Antwerp and Lawrence Township. Company officials said most of the build is aerial and contingent on pole‑attachment permits and make‑ready work.

The update matters because the county provided ARPA funding toward the project and the work is intended to serve dozens of unserved or underserved addresses in the county. Commissioners pressed Comcast about costs and timing that affect how quickly residents will gain service.

Jeff Snyder, director of business development for Comcast’s Heartland Region, said the award in Van Buren County is effectively “lots of small projects” rather than a single large build. He said the largest construction segment serves 35 addresses and that three addresses are already completed and serviceable. “Make ready is anything that has to be done to prepare the poles for us to attach,” Snyder said, explaining that make‑ready work can include pole replacement or adding supports to prevent leaning once Comcast attaches its lines.

Comcast reported that permits submitted to Consumers Energy have been approved and that AEP pole attachment applications are pending. The company has been in permitting with the City of Southaven Electric Utility since May; Southaven’s make‑ready costs were substantially higher than Comcast expected. Comcast said the make‑ready charge from the local utility for the pole work came back at approximately $181,000 — an increase the company said required internal reapproval of additional capital. Company staff said that amount is a significant share of the original estimate for the county‑supported portion of the project.

Snyder said one address requires a Department of Natural Resources permit and that permit is pending, so that location may take longer. He also said six properties require access agreements to allow Comcast to place distribution equipment on private property; most of those agreements have been returned signed. “Once we do, we believe we can complete the vast majority of the project within 60 days,” Snyder said, referring to completion after necessary permits and make‑ready work are finished.

Comcast also described the services that will be available when the network is activated: the company said customers should expect gigabit‑class download speeds and higher upload speeds as nodes are upgraded. Snyder described a multi‑phase upgrade path and said eventual capability on the rebuilt segments could include multi‑gigabit symmetrical service: “they'll be able to get up to 2 gig, up and down symmetrical speeds over that network.”

Commissioners asked whether the county could assist in discussions with the City of Southaven utility about make‑ready costs; county staff and Comcast representatives said they would continue to coordinate and that Comcast’s contractors are handling permit filings and negotiations with pole owners.

Next steps reported to the board include finalizing outstanding pole attachments with Southaven, completing the remaining underground work and awaiting the pending DNR permit for the one longer‑lead address. Comcast said it will return with updated timing once outstanding permits are approved.