Palmyra, Virginia — As Virginia's dove hunting season begins, Firefly Fiber Broadband is encouraging hunters to "Take Aim Safely" and avoid shooting at doves perched on power lines and utility poles.
While it may seem like a harmless shot, damage to utility infrastructure can have significant consequences for entire communities. Firefly recorded 22 incidents of gunfire-related damage to its fiber network in 2025, resulting in 759,634 outage minutes, or more than 12,600 outage hours, for customers across its service area.
"Many people don't realize that fiber is in place underneath the power lines. The glass inside the casings can be shattered with a single shot which disrupts service for hundreds of homes and businesses," said Melissa Gay, Vice President, Communications and Customer Service for Firefly. "This overhead infrastructure supports remote work, education, healthcare, public safety communications, and countless everyday activities that our communities depend on."
With the expansion of broadband across central Virginia, fiber optic cables are now present in many rural areas. When damaged, repairs require specialized equipment, skilled technicians, and extensive restoration efforts. The cost to repair a single 144-count fiber cable can exceed $25,000, not including the broader costs associated with service interruptions.
Firefly is asking hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to remember a few simple guidelines this season to help protect the connections that keep rural communities online:
- Avoid shooting at doves perched on utility poles, power lines, or fiber lines.
- Be aware of utility infrastructure before taking a shot.
- Share the message with fellow hunters, friends, and family members.
Damaging utility infrastructure is not only dangerous, but it can also carry serious legal and financial consequences. Under Virginia law, intentional damage to utility infrastructure may constitute a Class 4 felony and individuals responsible for damage could be held financially liable for repair costs.
"Most hunters are responsible stewards of the outdoors and deeply care about their communities," said Gary Wood, President and CEO of Firefly. "We simply ask everyone to think before they shoot and help protect the infrastructure that keeps neighbors connected."
As dove season gets underway this weekend, Firefly encourages residents to take aim safely, let the doves fly, and help keep Virginia communities connected.
