Shentel and its utility and middle‑mile partners told Franklin County supervisors on Dec. 16 that major broadband buildout work funded under VADI and BEAD grants is largely complete and that marketing and customer cutovers will begin as fibers and equipment pass final testing.

"We are at the finish line of this project," Jesse Wilmer of Shentel said, describing more than 530 miles of new plant and roughly 3,200 previously underserved locations now in service, with another group of locations awaiting final certifications. She said two small holdouts — a Blue Ridge Parkway crossing and a railroad crossing with a 2026 crossing window — are delaying full completion of a handful of sites but will not prevent the project from being conditionally closed out with state staff.

County and state staff echoed those timelines. Carl, the state's project manager, said a conditional closeout is available if permit obstacles persist and that contracts for remaining BEAD work are expected to be in place by mid‑2026. Rob Mann of Appalachian Power described extensive pole reviews and replacement work that supported the build and said AEP has turned over tails and cleared the way for River Street and other ISPs to finish splicing and testing.

River Street representatives outlined the middle‑mile testing procedure and timetable: AEP will complete transmission‑side testing and hand over "tails" to River Street, which will then test to its cabinet endpoints and proceed with household turn‑ups. River Street said it expects to begin marketing and pre‑registration once fibers are turned over, with customer connections anticipated in Q2 2026.

County staff summarized the larger funding picture: federal and state grants catalyzed roughly $30 million in investments for Franklin County projects, supplemented by utility and provider contributions and county ARPA monies. The county also noted that the BEAD awards brought a mix of fiber and satellite solutions to parts of the county, and that DHCD has signaled contract activity in 2026 for some BEAD awards.

With testing and final permitting still outstanding in isolated spots, supervisors asked about year‑end closeout, local crew availability for customer hookups and mitigation for right‑of‑way restoration. Staff and providers said decommissioning and restoration work is planned where temporary attachments or site disturbance occurred, and that they will coordinate maps and ceremonial events with the county when marketing launches.

The county's broadband authority adjourned after the update; supervisors reiterated the project's significance for economic development, telehealth and education and thanked partners for the multiagency effort.