RiverStreet and Appalachian Power give multi-phase broadband build updates; BEAD funds cited to expand coverage
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Summary
RiverStreet Networks reported design, LIDAR and field work and said parts of Patrick County could have service by mid-2026; Appalachian Power detailed AEP's VA-3 construction schedule and pole work. Speakers outlined BEAD/BEED funding breakdowns and noted federal permitting across the Blue Ridge Parkway as a delay point.
Two presentations at the board meeting updated supervisors on the countywide broadband build.
Rob Taylor of RiverStreet Networks described completed high-level designs, ongoing low-level design and LIDAR scans, staked cabinet and pedestal locations, and planned fiber tail installations. He said the Shingle Shop area is expected to begin customer connections in 2026 and estimated more than 5,200 homes will have access by July. Taylor also summarized BEAD (referred to in the transcript as BEED/BEAD) funding: of roughly 1,586 locations identified by the state as eligible, RiverStreet could pick up approximately 1,287 with current funding, with Brightspeed and satellite providers (Amazon/SpaceX) covering others. He estimated the total funded build would serve about 9,663 locations and cost in the low-$50 million range with BEAD support.
Rob Mann with Appalachian Power described the VA-3 project’s route-by-route progress: roughly 137 miles in Patrick County with 78 miles already constructed, distribution work at varying completion rates, pole replacements underway to accommodate fiber, and splicing/test-and-turn-up schedules through 2026. Mann and RiverStreet staff noted permitting to cross federal lands (including the Blue Ridge Parkway) has delayed certain routes; both companies said they are working to coordinate remotes, redundancy and alternate routes to minimize service outages.
Supervisors asked about timing affected by permitting and government shutdowns and about the earliest dates for homeowner connections; presenters said substantial connection progress is expected through 2026 if permits and BEAD disbursements proceed on schedule. No board vote was required on the updates, though the presentations informed later easement and permitting discussions with Appalachian Power.
