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Firefly 'VAD 22' project proceeding; authority reports easement issues but expects summer 2025 deliveries
Summary
Authority staff reported steady progress on the VAD 22 project with Firefly, said major easement issues are being handled by Firefly's legal team, and that many passings have been built with more expected through summer 2025; no extension has been requested, and ARPA accounting is being reconciled separately.
The Albemarle County Broadband Authority received an update on the VAD 22 project led by Firefly, with staff reporting ongoing work to resolve easement issues and expecting additional passings to be completed through summer 2025. Staff said Firefly has not requested a deadline extension.
Staff said some easement work remains, that Firefly has contracted with a legal firm to pursue easement acquisitions and to resolve some mapping discrepancies, and that the authority connected Firefly with third-party consultants (OWC) to transmit large files and assist the process. Staff described the easement problems as a mix of major easement gaps and mismatched parcel mapping that made boundaries unclear.
Deliverables and timing: Staff said many passings already invoiced are reflected in the progress reports but noted the reports lag actual construction by about three to four months. Appalachian Power crews were cited as shifting to Albemarle to help complete make-ready work tied to RISE projects, and staff said observers have reported seeing crews in the field.
ARPA and invoicing: Staff noted a separate ARPA agreement between Albemarle and Firefly exists and that Firefly has not yet provided invoices allocating costs between the BEAD-style grant and the ARPA agreement; accountants and GIS staff are working to apportion costs for invoicing.
No formal action was taken on this item. Staff said they expect a large number of additional delivered passings within the next several months and will provide updated reports when progress invoices are processed.
