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State broadband office and regional planner outline other provider awards and corrective‑action options
Summary
DHCD and West Piedmont briefed the board: DHCD said satellite awards (SpaceX, Amazon Kuiper) cover roughly 50 remote locations and Lumen/CenturyLink covers about 200 locations; West Piedmont said a corrective action plan deadline may create options for moving funding if needed.
State and regional officials provided context on program awards and options if progress stalls.
Michael Arbisher of the West Piedmont Planning District Commission said the current presentations reflect a culmination of multi‑agency planning and that AEP appears close to releasing the first AEP transport route for River Street splicing. He suggested a corrective action plan process with DHCD could clarify options.
Cameron Vaughn, acting director of the Virginia Office of Broadband at the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), told the board that satellite providers (SpaceX/Starlink and Amazon Kuiper) have been awarded about 50 locations in Patrick County, concentrated in the most remote areas, and that Lumen (formerly CenturyLink) will install fiber for roughly 200 locations on the county’s western side. Vaughn said some program awards will begin in 2026 and continue over the following 2–3 years.
Vaughn and Arbisher recommended county staff monitor corrective‑action timelines and be prepared to work with DHCD on extensions or filing if needed. Arbisher noted a corrective action plan deadline of June 8 on the transcript and said that, after that point, moving funding could become a possibility.
