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Firefly CEO Gary Wood says Dominion middle-mile is largely complete; splicing and final connections targeted for March with weather risks
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Summary
Gary Wood (Firefly) updated the Albemarle County Broadband Authority that Dominion has completed most middle-mile construction, Firefly is moving to splicing and final connections, and first connections in several areas are targeted for March though snow, railroad crossings and pole/easement issues could push some areas into April or May.
Gary Wood, speaking for Firefly, told the Albemarle County Broadband Authority that much of the remaining work on the county broadband project has shifted from heavy construction to splicing and final connections. He said Dominion's middle-mile build is basically complete in many areas and that Firefly is coordinating splicing, testing and the last-mile service drops.
"We have a lot of fiber in the ground in the air. It's not spliced and connected," Wood said, describing the current work stage. He listed area-specific statuses and timelines, saying some areas (for example, parts of Keene, Rockfish Gap and Gordonsville Road) are ready for splicing or already progressing to service jobs, while others (Stony Point, Earlyville) face design changes that require additional permits and site work.
Wood said the project aims to begin connections in many remaining areas by March but cautioned that the schedule is "really, really tight" and that weather and operational constraints could push some first connections to April or early May. He cited rail-crossing scheduling, waiting on flags for track work and the inability to spray 811 markings on snow-covered ground as real constraints.
Firefly reported rolling account numbers and take rates: Wood said there are just under 3,500 active accounts in the company's model today, that the overall service footprint will reach roughly 11,200 accounts, and that initial take rates in newly served areas have been about 60%, with established pockets reaching 75%–80%.
Authority members asked for detail on delays and appreciated the area-level explanations. No formal vote or policy change resulted from the briefing; members thanked Wood and asked staff to continue providing updates as splicing and service activations proceed.
Why it matters: the timetable for splicing and final connections affects when unserved residents will be able to subscribe and when the county can consider further applications for funding or service expansions.
