Broadband Project Update 6/10/2025
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!
We don’t have many updates this month. GEV20 has the power supply placed and is just waiting on the power up to go live, so it should be activating imminently. We’ll also likely see GER06 activate by end of June. Breezeline is still projecting hitting the target of 1,303 houses coming online by end of August 2025, consisting of GER01, GER04, GER05, GER06, GEV11, GEV12, GEV13, GEV20, and GEV21.
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 is going through the addresses to establish what the situation is for each.
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. The BEAD application process is starting over to account for new directives from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (https://www.ntia.gov/other-publication/2025/bead-restructuring-policy-notice).
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative continues to have faster turnaround on pole assessment for if repairs need to be made to attach to them.
Link to previous broadband announcements:
https://www.essexva.gov/community/page/fiber-internet-coming-essex-updated-05052025