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Franklin County broadband authority hears River Street partners’ progress updates; residents to see connections this year
Summary
River Street and contractors told Franklin County officials they have hung more than 100 miles of fiber, replaced 139 poles and expect customer connections to begin in coming weeks with larger rollouts through mid‑year and into Q3; the authority reviewed passings counts and a public signup plan.
The Franklin County Broadband Authority on March 17 received a multi‑partner update on its River Street middle‑mile project, with contractors reporting construction is moving from engineering into field work and customers should start seeing service this year.
Chair Lori Smith opened the authority session and turned the briefing over to county staff and project partners. Mr. Sandy said the project is regional — spanning Franklin, Henry and Patrick counties — and relies on American Electric Power’s middle‑mile fiber with River Street Networks tapping into those lines.
Michael, a project representative, acknowledged earlier timeline creep but said engineering is completing and “you’ll start to see some connections being made” in the coming weeks. He told the authority the team has been in continuous communication with the Department of Housing and Community Development to ensure planned passings will be able to be connected.
River Street‑affiliated presenters gave route‑by‑route status. Rob reported that testing and splicing are complete on some routes and that the contractor has hung about 102 miles of fiber in the county so far and completed 139 pole replacements as part of make‑ready work. Rob Taylor provided further detail on county service areas and passings counts: Sandy Level was listed at 357 passings; Glade Hill and Snow Creek remotes at 1,474 passings; Dry Hill and Washburn remotes together at 1,820 passings. Turnover and testing windows were described as staggered across Q2–Q3 depending on route and permit timing.
Project staff described a marketing and sign‑up plan to convert passings into customers: mailings/postcards to addresses within service areas, signup days at local partner locations (fire stations, churches), yard signs and web‑map tracking. The presenters said once an area is ready the installer turnaround goal is two to three weeks after customers sign up, though actual install speed will depend on the volume of applications received.
Authority members asked schedule questions and requested specifics about pole replacements and mailings. Mr. Sandy agreed to follow up with the requested pole counts and timing details. The authority adjourned after the update.
What happens next: River Street and partner teams are scheduled to brief county commissioners and planning staff in a forthcoming PDC meeting; the authority will alternate monthly updates with other partners as work continues.
