Local Internet & Phone Provider Celebrates Milestone & Successes
Palmyra, Virginia — Firefly Fiber BroadbandSM, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC), along with its Board and industry partners, is proud to celebrate its sixth anniversary. For 6 years, Firefly has been bridging the digital divide and providing world-class broadband access to rural communities across central Virginia. Firefly’s recent milestone of 30,000 internet connections is a testament to their commitment to innovation, excellence, and community engagement.
In 2018, Firefly was born out of a desire to deliver reliable, high-speed internet to CVEC’s more than 38,000 members. Its customer-centric services were designed to be simple and transparent with no contracts or data caps, and offer symmetrical upload and download speeds with no slowdowns. After completing the fiber build to CVEC members, Firefly expanded its footprint to their neighbors.
Firefly’s Regional Internet Service Expansion (RISE) Project was launched in 2021 to expand broadband to parts of 13 counties, making high-speed internet accessible to more than 51,000 locations. The RISE project includes 5,600 miles of fiber construction and will cost $378.6 million to complete. The project is executed by partnering with other area utilities to complete the fiber build, using funds secured from grants and county contributions to aid with construction costs. The funding and construction can be compared to a “handmade rural country quilt” with sections contributed by various private and public groups.
Firefly has expanded from 4 to more than 40 employees, and their commitment to superior customer service continues today. "Reflecting on our journey over the past 6 years, I am amazed at what we have achieved together,” said Firefly President & CEO, Gary Wood. “Our employees and partners live here and are the pillars of our success. They are committed to going the extra mile to serve their neighbors. As we look ahead, Firefly remains focused on pushing boundaries, embracing new challenges, and continuing to deliver exceptional value to our customers. Here's to many more years of growth and excellence." For more information about Firefly and our services, please visit our website.
