Broadband Project Update 3/31/2025
Take a look at the map above to see how the project is progressing in your area!
Some key pieces of information of which you should be aware:
- To make sure your address is part of the project, please reach out to Breezeline via the address portal (https://events.breezeline.us/essexcounty-youhaveachoice/original_page)! If internet difficulties impede your ability to fill out the web form, please call the County GIS office at 804-443-3490 and we’ll type in the info you relay to us over the phone!
- If you live down a long driveway/private road, make sure the owner of the road gives Breezeline permission to come down the road!
- If you have non-Miss Utility buried features (sprinklers, electric fences, etc), let Breezeline know so they don’t inadvertently find them!
There is exciting news this month! GER04 is projected to activate by the end of April 2025! GER06 is projected to go online by end of May! Breezeline is targeting 1,303 houses brought online by the end of August 2025, consisting of GER01, GER04, GER05, GER06, GEV11, GEV12, GEV13, GEV20, and GEV21.
One potential source of delay is when the poles go across farm fields. Once planting season begins, no work can be done on those poles until after the harvest so construction vehicles do not drive across planted crops.
Another project risk is the possibility of abrupt cessation of federal grant funding, although there have not been any specific indications that broadband expansion is a current target.
Island Farm Rd, because it is surrounded by marsh, will need dryer conditions before cable can be laid. A brief drought this summer would be ideal for broadband expansion purposes.
GEV20 is spliced and waiting on the power supply, which should be in position in the next 30 days (so should be activated by end of May). Power supplies have to go on people’s land, so Breezeline is reaching out to property owners to get permission to place them.
The underground construction planned from the beginning is completed in all areas except GEV18. More underground construction will undoubtedly occur as the pole make-ready costs come in high and underground ends up being cheaper.
Some houses are not in a project area, but also do not currently have service. We are working on figuring out how many houses do not have service and are also not scheduled to get service from this VATI 2023 project to determine the scale of the problem, and thus what sort of solutions are feasible. Breezeline has a contractor combing through the address list we provided.
Link to previous broadband announcements:
https://www.essexva.gov/community/page/fiber-internet-coming-essex-updated-01302025