ZITEL reports 88 miles of fiber and early customer sign‑ups in Franklin County; BEAD timing remains pivotal

A ZITEL representative told Franklin County officials on April 21 that the company’s 2024 grant project in Franklin County has progressed substantially, with about 88 miles of fiber in the ground and 735 BEAD‑eligible passings. Rodney Gray said POPs one through three are essentially complete (POP 3 about 95% done) and POP 5 construction was planned for mid‑May.

Gray said 14,000 mailers were sent to addresses in the initial build footprint and that activation requests have begun; the system reported 68 active subscribers as of the latest update. He said project scheduling and the activation of certain areas remain contingent on BEAD contract awards and state environmental review processes (NEPA) performed by regional planning district commissions and assigned planning district partners.

County supervisors pressed for clarification on where construction began (backhaul availability and “build from the light out” strategy), how co‑location with emergency‑management facilities would work, and how ZITEL is addressing restoration standards along state roads and bonding limits that temporarily cap permit openings. Gray acknowledged the company must manage bond exposure and permitting pace and said the firm expects BEAD contract awards and related funding to be in hand for associated crews to continue work in May, pending final signings and review.

The county asked staff to continue alternating project updates between ZITEL and River Street in monthly meetings to monitor progress and BEAD award timing.