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Albemarle Broadband Authority votes to ask VDOT to expedite permits as buildout races to June 30 deadline
Summary
Authority members heard Firefly and staff updates showing most fiber is in the ground but permitting and railroad crossing approvals risk delaying ARPA-funded work needed to spend funds by June 30; the board authorized the chair to send VDOT a letter asking for expedited reviews and added Albemarle ARPA locations to the request.
The Albemarle Broadband Authority voted to authorize its chair to send a letter to the Virginia Department of Transportation asking that VDOT expedite permits tied to Firefly’s ARPA-funded broadband construction, citing permit and rail-crossing delays that could prevent work from completing before the June 30 fiscal-year deadline.
The motion was made by Trevor and approved by voice vote after a member offered a brief amendment to also include Albemarle ARPA-funded locations alongside the Body 22 program. Chair Alan was authorized to sign the letter on the authority’s behalf.
Why it matters: staff said ARPA rules require the work and funding to be completed before the fiscal-year end; missing that date could put federal funds at risk. Staff and company presenters told the board that most construction—placing fiber in the ground—has been completed in many project areas, but remaining steps (feed…
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