More than 1,200 locations in Madison County are now connected to high-speed broadband as part of the ongoing Firefly RISE project.
At Tuesday’s board of supervisors meeting, Firefly Key Account Executive Galen Creekmore updated those in attendance on the project’s status. The RISE project is a partnership between Firefly Fiber Broadband, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) and Dominion Energy and aims to bring affordable, high-speed internet to more than 42,000 homes and businesses over 13 counties including Madison County. The two-phase project is funded via VATI 2022 and 2024 grants, with local and private sector matching funds. A portion not originally included in the project was initially covered via an FCC grant awarded to Brightspeed. The area has since been added to the RISE project along with the matching funding.
As of Oct. 8, Creekmore said there are 1,250 active locations being served by Firefly in Madison County. That number, up from 480 in April, will continue to grow. Creekmore said the overall project will include approximately 5,000 passings in the county and, assuming a 60% take rate, will yield approximately 3,000 active locations once completed.
Areas that were initially included in the VATI 2022 grant are either already connected or are in the process of being connected. This includes Wolftown, Madison, Zeus, Rochelle, Pratts, Locust Dale, Novum and Leon. Make-ready work, which is done by REC and consists of preparing and in some cases, installing, poles to hold the fiber is ongoing in the VATI 2024 areas, along with fiber construction. Contractors are working in Haywood, Etlan, Syria, Criglersville, and Kinderhook. Fiber splicing is ongoing in Quaker Run.
“Make-ready work is running a little bit slower [in some areas] than in others,” Creekmore said. “[The crews] are working in places like Hoover Camp replacing poles on the side of that mountain. The work is going to be slower there.”
Creekmore said it’s important to note that the work being done is part of a generational, future-proof infrastructure project, touching every single electrical pole across the county, replacing them when needed, stringing fiber and splicing it to homes.
“It’s important work, but it does take some time,” he said.
Another important thing for residents to know, Creekmore said, is that the lines aren’t bulletproof. He said a huge issue the company is having is that folks are shooting at doves on the lines during dove season, hitting the fiber line and causing damage.
“We’re spending hundreds of thousands a year repairing shot fiber,” Creekmore said. “On nearly every electric pole in the entire county we have hung fiber. If you shoot the fiber, it will affect neighbors, emergency services, the county’s investment and our own investment.”
Creekmore said one cut of fiber can be a $30,000 fix. In August, Firefly launched the “Be a Good Neighbor” campaign to raise awareness and prevent damage to fiber lines. That campaign can be viewed at https://www.fireflyva.com/firefly-launches-be-a-good-neighbor-campaign-to-protect-fiber-lines/.
Those wanting to determine if they are eligible for Firefly can visit https://register.fireflyva.com/ and enter their address to pre-register.
