Broadband Project Update 5/05/2025
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 now live and able to get service (except for 10 of the addresses, which are still pending)! 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.
GEV20 is spliced and waiting on the power supply, which should be in position imminently (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. Out of the 497 that we identified as not being in a project area, 131 are not in the current VATI project. Breezeline has applied for the BEAD grant to try to fill in some of that gap.
To build unobstructed underground fiber costs about $75,000 per mile. Breezeline’s BEAD application assumed all underground construction, given the higher than estimated pole make ready costs we’re seeing in the VATI project.
Rappahanock Electric Cooperative has finished statusing poles north of Tappahannock that are slated for end of August 2025 construction; their extra labor they’ve brought on seems to be helping a lot!
Link to previous broadband announcements:
https://www.essexva.gov/community/page/fiber-internet-coming-essex-updated-03312025