Lighting the broadband desert

 

Goochland's commitment to bring broadband access to every home in the county, especially its rural western part, is underway.

On Wednesday, November 10, District 1 Supervisor Susan Lascolette, welcomed officials from our partners in this endeavor: Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC); Firefly Fiber Broadband; Rappahannock Electric Cooperative REC; and Dominion Energy (D), to the Hadensville Company 6 fire-rescue station to celebrate the acceleration of this initiative. Lascolette was joined by fellow elected officials, Supervisor Neil Spoonhower, District 2, Board Chair John Lumpkins, Jr. District 3; Lee Ware, whose 65^th District in the Virginia House of Delegates includes western Goochland; and 22^nd District State Senator Mark Peake.

Also present were Evan Feinman, Governor Northam's Chief Broadband Advisor and Richard Jenkins Rural Utilities services of the U. S Department of Agriculture.

Partners in progress (Goochland County photo)
Susan Lascolette front and center

Lascolette said that the address of the fire-rescue station, Three Chopt Road, was fitting because its name alludes to an early form of communication—marking a route with three chops or notches on a tree to let travelers know they are on the right path. "We are on the right path to bringing broadband access to all of our citizens with our partners in this regional initiative."

Dubbed RISE, Rural Internet Service Expansion, the initiative is a collaboration of electric utilities, local governments, and internet service provider Firefly to bring internet access to customers their service areas.  

Gary Wood, president and chief executive officer of Firefly, a wholly owned subsidiary of CVEC, said that a Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) grant application filed by RISE will provide significant funding for the $17.5 million project. Goochland is contributing up to $3,637,500 towards the project, using its federal CARES Act funds for the purpose.

Wood said that all CVEC customers in northwestern Goochland, which includes the fire-rescue station, will have broadband access by the first quarter of 2022. "Trucks will be around soon," said Wood.  If the VATI grant is awarded, things will speed up even more. All CVEC customers in Goochland will have Firefly access, with those in Shannon Hill getting it sooner.

Keep and eye out for Firefly trucks in you live in western Goochland. 

A Reconnect Grant awarded to Goochland will also "jumpstart" fiber build out in some portions of the county. Together, these two projects will make gigabit speed internet available to almost 3,400 county locations. Firefly monthly rates are reasonable. Go to www.firefly.com for complete information.

"Speed" is relative, however. Wood cautioned that build out of infrastructure will take a couple of years. "We're going to build it right and build it to serve Goochland residents for decades to come and bring world class service to Goochland County."

Charlene Whitfield, Senior Vice President of Power Delivery for Dominion said that "we need to work hand in hand with partnerships like this to overcome challenges too big for any one of us to tackle alone." This project highlights innovation, sustainability, equity, and community. Broadband is essential for business, local economy, daily activities, medical care, searching for a job, and doing homework. As a regulated utility, D has a duty to provide electricity to everyone in its service territory.  "This puts us in a unique position to use fiber capacity to promote grid operations and bridge the digital divide," said Whitefield.

Ware recalled campaigned in western Goochland about a decade ago. "It's the human stories that tell the immense need for broadband that require the kind of funding that the federal government alone has the power to provide. Governor Northam is willing to put a large chunk of our federal pandemic funds toward this project. It's the people that will be reached that make this such an exciting opportunity. I have immense gratitude to everyone who came together to make this happen, including the Goochland Supervisors who have gone far beyond talking about this."

"This is how it should work," said Peake. "Federal, state, and local governments coming together with private entities to help serve the needs of our citizens shows that it can succeed."

Feinman said five years ago, the state was planning to put $1 million toward broadband expansion, today that number is manyfold. "Ahead is a tremendous task and an incredible opportunity. If we stay the course, we will be the first state in the nation with universal broadband. It's not easy, we got here with partnerships. That tells us that the power we all still have when everyone comes together, we can do really, really remarkable things. When we head in the same direction, we get where we want to go and do it really well."

Spoonhower said that when he ran for office, people told him to support public safety, our schools, keep it rural, expand broadband but don't raise taxes.

"The beauty of our county is our people. We understand that a rural lifestyle comes with a bit of inconvenience. Broadband is not an inconvenience, it's a necessity. Because we have great partners, we continue to pledge to support this, however it ends. When we did our ten-year CIP (capital improvement plan) last year, every single supervisor said broadband is our number one priority.  We are showing this in everything we do by using federal Covid money, and not increasing the tax rate to do this."

In a world where disagreement is rife, it's satisfying to see an important project, like making broadband access universal, transcend conflict for the good of all.