Caroline County updates progress on 2023 broadband grant as DHCD grants six‑month extension

David Sadler, director of information technology for Caroline County and a member of the broadband advisory committee, told residents on June 15 that the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development granted a six‑month extension to the county's 2023 broadband grant to allow crews time to finish long drives, private roads and agricultural-area work before final project closeout.

The extension was granted at Caroline County's request, Sadler said, and is intended to address delays caused by weather, easement and property‑access issues and agricultural restrictions that limit field access during planting and harvest seasons. "The extension granted ensures that we have time to work on the completion of long drives," he said.

Sadler reported construction progress, saying the project has "over 203 miles of fiber" completed and additional fiber already in the ground. He also said the total fiber installed will finish slightly under the originally estimated 439 miles because of design changes. A number presented in the recording for homes currently serviceable was recorded as "2,46"; the precise figure was not clear on the recording and is not specified here.

Several GCV service zones were listed with expected sales or availability windows: GCV18 and GCV19 were projected to be available by late June or around July 1; GCV20–23 were estimated to open for sale in July–August; and GCV24–26 were estimated to be available in August–September. Sadler referenced map areas including Lady Smith Road, St. Mary's Catholic Church, Page Road, Woodford, Guinea, Stonewall Jackson Road, Thornberg, Corbin and Route 17.

Sadler said GCV19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 26 were actively under construction and that crews are working around agricultural areas to limit delays. He described private drives and long multi‑resident drives as a particular remaining hurdle: Breezeline and Caroline County will send letters to property owners on affected private drives asking them to sign agreements required before service can be installed. "If you live on a private drive, please be on the lookout for a letter from Breezeline and one from Caroline County on how to proceed with the construction," he said.

Unfinished private drives, Sadler warned, will not be eligible after project closeout. Property owners who do not respond or refuse permission could be removed from the grant and may bear the future cost of construction if they later choose to take service.

For households not covered by the 2023 grant, Sadler said alternative providers and approaches are being pursued. Addresses in Charlesburg omitted from the 2023 grant with Verizon are planned to be served by IWISP, which Sadler said estimates construction will begin in July and take about 12 months to complete. Addresses on Writesville Road, Smoots and Chase Street that were not included in the 2023 grant are scheduled to be served by Starlink. The Caroline County Board of Supervisors has directed the broadband advisory committee to explore other options for houses not included in the 2023 award.

Sadler closed by directing residents to the county website broadband tab for questions and said the next broadband update will be July 20, 2026, available on the county's YouTube channel and the county website. "Caroline County remains committed to broadband access for its residents," he said.

The extension from DHCD and the county's outreach to private‑drive owners are the next procedural steps; no formal vote or motion on the extension was recorded during this update.