Picture this: You're in Hanover County, eagerly awaiting the day when lightning-fast internet becomes a reality for your home or business. Over 260 households have already made the leap, thanks to the county's ambitious Connect Hanover program. But here's the kicker – as the project inches toward its finish line, fresh hurdles are throwing a wrench into the works, potentially causing more setbacks. It's a story of progress marred by bureaucracy and partnership challenges, and it's one that begs the question: When will reliable broadband finally reach everyone who needs it?
According to county officials, the pace of advancement has slowed down considerably. The key players, including internet provider All Points Broadband, are grappling with a critical barrier: gaining entry to private roads to lay the final stretches of fiber optic cables. These cables, which are essentially thin strands of glass or plastic that transmit data at incredible speeds using light signals, are the backbone of modern high-speed internet. To make this happen, All Points must secure new road easements – legal rights to use or access private property for this purpose – and obtain the necessary permits, which they haven't filed yet. For beginners wondering what an easement entails, think of it as a formal agreement that allows public or private entities to cross or use someone else's land without owning it, often for utilities like power lines or, in this case, internet infrastructure.
In a recent update to Hanover's Board of Supervisors, Deputy County Manager Todd Kilduff announced a shift in communication strategy. Instead of sporadic reports, the county will now provide monthly check-ins on the project's status. The initiative kicked off in 2021 and officially broke ground in November 2024, aiming to deploy roughly 550 miles of fiber optic wiring to deliver internet to about 6,200 homes and businesses in eastern Hanover. Kilduff emphasized the public's keen interest, noting, 'A lot of people have been visiting our website, and we have a lot of people who consume the data. Trust me — if we miss an update, somebody will call us.' It's a reminder of how vital this project is to the community, and this is the part most people miss: the human element behind the data, where everyday residents are holding their breath for better connectivity.
The total cost to wrap this up is estimated at $55 million, funded through a mix of sources. An initial $14 million came from a grant via the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative under former Governor Ralph Northam. Another $15 million was allocated from county funds through the American Rescue Plan Act, a federal program designed to aid recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Private investments added $26 million, contributed by partners like All Points Broadband, Dominion Energy, and Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. Now, Hanover is pursuing additional support through Virginia's state-run Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program to cover unserved areas that weren't part of the original plan. This program, for those new to it, focuses on closing the digital divide by ensuring equitable access to high-speed internet, especially in underserved regions.
Progress so far shows promise: Brightspeed has nearly completed 99% of its work on installing both above- and below-ground fiber wiring. All Points has laid over 250 miles of fiber, creating potential connections for more than 1,850 households and over 6,000 'passing' connections – that's homes wired up and eligible for service, even if they haven't signed up with a provider yet. But the journey hasn't been smooth. The project has endured multiple delays and technical snags, such as damaged utility poles, issues with contractors, and the need to meet updated high-speed internet standards from the Federal Communications Commission. These standards, outlined in FCC documents, set benchmarks for what qualifies as 'high-speed' – typically download speeds of at least 25 Mbps and upload speeds of 3 Mbps – to ensure quality service.
These early obstacles prompted county leaders to seek an extension from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, the body overseeing the initial grant. Without it, they risked forfeiting the funding. Now, Kilduff indicates another extension might be necessary as staff and partners work to secure those elusive easements and permissions. And this is where it gets controversial: Critics might argue that relying on private companies for such critical infrastructure leads to these kinds of delays, questioning whether public-private partnerships are the most efficient way forward. Is it fair to expect private entities to navigate complex permitting processes, or should local governments take a more hands-on role to expedite things? It's a debate worth having, especially when access to reliable internet is increasingly seen as a basic right in today's digital world.
All Points Broadband representatives couldn't make the meeting and didn't respond to requests for comment. Brightspeed, however, shared with VPM News that they plan to update the board on their advancements in January 2026. South Anna Supervisor Sue Dibble highlighted that the county has compiled a list of needed roads and is pushing to accelerate the process. She stressed, 'We have done everything we can to work with All Points as a partner.' Cold Harbor Supervisor Michael Herzberg, who chairs the board, echoed this urgency: 'I know a lot of work has been done over the last four years, but these private roads have been known for about four years. It's time to get these plans done, and it's time to get this work rolling.' Their words underscore the frustration building in the community, where patience is wearing thin after years of anticipation.
As Hanover County pushes forward, one can't help but wonder: Should private companies shoulder more accountability for these delays, or is the burden on local governments to streamline regulations? What if a fully public approach could have avoided some of these hurdles? Share your opinions in the comments – do you agree that partnerships are the way to go, or is it time for a different strategy? Let's discuss!
