Broadband initiative in Charles City targets October completion date

By Andre Jones | July 28, 2015 9:15 pm

Progress of improved telecommunications in Charles City is on task for an October completion.

County planning director Matt Rowe updated county supervisors at the July 28 regular board meeting. After receiving a $600,000 state grant in December 2014, negotiations, pre-engineering work, and planning have hit full stride.

Construction is slated to begin to install fiber optic lines to Roxbury Industrial Park by late August on early September according to Rowe. The planning director expects all work to be completed by late October barring any setbacks from inclement weather.

As part of the effort to bring wireless broadband to the county, Charles City supervisors unanimously awarded a contract to RCS Communications to construct two 120-foot towers at a total cost of $90,638. One tower is expected to be constructed in Roxbury Industrial Park and the other near Ruthville High School. A third tower located in the courthouse complex will complete the triangulation process.

Rowe expects the addition of high-speed internet to attract businesses and also retain jobs in the industrial park.