A partnership between Orange and Culpeper counties is continuing to take shape with more than 1,600 addresses in the latter expected to be served by FiberLync in the first of several projects.
In October, county officials announced they would be moving forward with FiberLync as the county’s new broadband partner. The Orange County based provider was chosen from among three submissions to a request for proposals. The other two providers were Firefly and Comcast. That RFP was issued in May after the county cut ties with previous partner All Points Broadband (APB) who failed to meet project deadlines, only successfully connecting one customer nearly a year after its proposed original completion date.
FiberLync was established in 2016 and is owned and operated by the Orange County Broadband Authority created by the Orange County Board of Supervisors. The county created the entity after recognizing the importance of providing access to affordable, high-speed broadband to its residents and has a mission and vision of bringing a fiber optics network to areas of the Piedmont Region. Since its inception, approximately 93% of the county has access to high-speed internet, up from 40% prior.
On Tuesday, FiberLync Operations Manager Joshua Crawford gave an update on what will be the first project of many to connect Culpeper residents to high-speed internet. The first project will serve approximately 1,695 addresses over 105.47 miles and will be split into three phases. The first area incorporated will be 27.40 miles in the Lignum area with a node site at the collection center serving 493 addresses. Nodes are created in each area which are then used to feed service to surrounding addresses. The second area will be in Richardsville with 25.27 miles of fiber and a node at the volunteer fire station serving 454 addresses. The third will be in Brandy Station with 52.79 miles of fiber serving 748 addresses. Crawford said splitting the project into three phases offers a way to maintain an ongoing construction schedule with residents being offered service as individual roads are connected. The first project is expected to begin Jan. 5 and be completed by Dec. 4, 2026 at an estimated cost of $4,820 per address, approximately $8 million total.
Three additional future projects could expand coverage to other areas, with the entire area covered by FiberLync in Culpeper County totaling 304.62 miles (302 of which would be underground fiber and 1.62 of aerial fiber) and 6,484 addresses at a cost of approximately $24 million. An opportunity also exists to connect the county’s schools through a private fiber network and connect public safety tower sites to the Culpeper County Emergency Services center. Both have been done in Orange County.
To fund the first project, Crawford said different options are being considered including any BEAD grant funding or future VATI grant opportunities. A portion of revenue from FiberLync’s Culpeper subscribers will also be used to further project efforts and an option could exist through revenue bonds which FiberLync has used in the past.
West Fairfax District Supervisor Gary Deal said there could be some opportunities for innovative funding. Crawford said further discussion would be needed between representatives from both counties and FiberLync.
“The overall idea is to enhance this partnership to where it’s mutually beneficial to all parties,” Crawford said. “We’re willing to work with you on whatever would make this possible.”
Supervisors unanimously approved the overall concept for FiberLync’s project. A phased agreement and contract is being negotiated and will likely be on the Jan. 6 meeting agenda.
