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Bedford County planning director reports progress on multi-phase broadband rollout
Summary
Planning Director Stephanie Clevenstine told the commissioners that Phase I (21 towers) is complete, Phase II construction funded by an ARC grant is under way, and Phase III would extend broadband to homes pending additional funding.
Stephanie Clevenstine, Bedford County’s director of planning, updated the Board of Commissioners on the county’s broadband initiative on March 12, saying Phase I — the installation of 21 towers — was completed last year and Phase II construction is under way with support from an ARC grant.
Clevenstine described the county’s broadband work as a multi-phase effort that began in 2018 and accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic when demand for telehealth, remote education and work-from-home access rose. She said Phase III will focus on extending service from tower coverage to homes but will require additional funding to reach that goal.
The update provided a timeline and rationale for continued investment: initial tower infrastructure, a compensation plan for operations, and subsequent grant-supported construction. Clevenstine did not specify a Phase III budget or an exact timetable for household connections at the meeting.
Commissioners did not take a separate vote on the broadband report; it was presented as a staff update during the meeting.
