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Comcast and Spectrum outline local footprints, pricing and resiliency options
Summary
Comcast said its Patrick County footprint is limited to Stuart/Route 58 and highlighted Internet Essentials pricing; Charter Spectrum said it has completed eligible construction within its RDOF/VATI footprints but 14–200 locations remain stalled by Blue Ridge Parkway permits and described battery and cellular backup products.
Comcast and Charter Spectrum briefed the Board on May 26 about their existing local footprints, customer-assistance programs, and resiliency offerings.
Terry Ellis of Comcast said the company has no active grant-funded construction in Patrick County beyond the Town of Stuart and corridor along Route 58 (about 2,200 homes passed). She highlighted Comcast's Internet Essentials program, noting eligibility for households on public assistance and pricing tiers of $14.95 or $29.95 per month depending on package. Ellis volunteered to investigate an individual out-of-pocket drop quote raised by a board member to determine whether the cost could be reduced.
Joe Prater of Charter Spectrum said "Charter Spectrum has completed all possible physical network construction within both its FCC Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) footprint and its state VATI grant footprint," and explained the remaining stalled locations are due to pending National Park Service permits along the Blue Ridge Parkway (14 VATI locations; about 200 RDOF locations). He also outlined resiliency measures including OLT backup batteries that provide roughly 6–12 hours' operation and a battery-powered modem attachment that can shift home networks to a 5G cellular backup.
