Louisa, Va. – Last week, officials from Firefly Fiber Broadband joined Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) to celebrate efforts to bring high-speed internet to unserved and underserved communities as a result of the partnership that includes Firefly, REC as well as Louisa and Goochland counties. Local and regional leaders joined at the REC Service Center in Louisa County to celebrate the first residents in Louisa and Goochland counties to be connected with high-speed internet.
“Firefly is pleased to partner with REC to offer affordable and reliable fiber-to-the-home internet access to thousands of their members who have no other viable option,” said Firefly’s President and CEO Gary Wood. “Access to broadband by all is expected and necessary in today’s world and rural Virginians are finally receiving the connectivity they so need and desire. We are transforming lives one home and business at a time.”
Work is ongoing on the 2,650 miles of fiber to the home that will be leased by Firefly across five counties. Make-ready and fiber construction is under way throughout Louisa and in Goochland, and make-ready engineering and construction continues in Greene, Madison and Albemarle counties.
During the event, Louisa County and Goochland County officials reiterated their commitment to the partnership with REC and Firefly, and Superintendent of Louisa County Schools Doug Straley emphasized just how far this project will go in supporting rural communities and referred to the project as a “gamechanger.”
“It’s an opportunity to give our students here in Louisa and Goochland the same opportunities” that students in more populated areas have, he said. “The only way to make that happen is to give them the tools that everyone else has.”
Regarding partnerships that are making broadband possible, he continued: “I love rural America. This is why: We make things happen, and we find solutions.”
Photos courtesy of Eugene Campbell.