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FiberLink says first Culpeper customers could be live in August as crews install conduit and secure easements
Summary
FiberLink told the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors it has placed about 5,800 feet of conduit and holds nearly 19 miles of permits, with an expected initial customer 'light up' in late August; the company said rework on Stevensburg Road and supplier delays have slowed progress but did not change the overall plan.
Josh Crawford of FiberLink updated the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors on the county‑wide fiber build, saying crews have installed roughly 5,800 feet of conduit and that the company holds almost 19 miles of permits with about 90 miles submitted for review. Crawford said the project’s May 27 groundbreaking has moved the build into an active construction phase and that, barring supply or weather interruptions, FiberLink expects to begin lighting customers in the Stevensburg area in late August.
Crawford described a section of conduit previously installed along Stevensburg Road that did not meet VDOT permitting requirements and had to be removed and re‑placed in the correct location. "The permits that we were issued had the conduit placed behind the ditch line," he said, explaining that crews removed and are now replacing the conduit in the permitted alignment. He told supervisors that Timmons Group and subcontractors are on site and that FiberLink has engaged the contractor about workmanship and personnel changes where standards were not met.
The presenter said the team is securing easements for distribution and node sites, citing Lehi Park and the Richardsville Volunteer Fire Station as locations already negotiated and recorded, and Lignum Tower as under negotiation. Crawford said materials delays — for an equipment cabinet at the Lehi Park node and subscriber routers for customer installs — together with routine weather interruptions, have pushed some tasks but not the overall schedule. He added the company is considering using middle‑mile partners to accelerate node activation while continuing mainline conduit installation.
Crawford noted 291 pre‑registrations on the project website and said FiberLink is trying to accelerate node activation to deliver service faster to residents. Supervisors asked about third‑party inspection and oversight; Crawford said FiberLink could consider independent inspectors and currently coordinates weekly with VDOT and its contractor teams.
The board asked for a cost‑per‑passing slide to be displayed for future meetings; Crawford said current costs are below earlier estimates but that invoicing is being held while the contractor revises some work. The presentation concluded with supervisors thanking staff and the FiberLink team for the update.
