New Kent leaders not impressed with broadband presentation from Cox Communications

As New Kent County leaders look for ways to bring high-speed internet to the locality, they know that several companies are looking for a pathway to be the supplier of what is essentially a necessity in today’s times. One such company’s pitch didn’t fair to well at the July 28 morning work session of the county’s supervisors.

Cox Communications Senior Manager of Public Affairs Sarah Buck approached county leaders with a plan to extend the utility to 1,200 homes in 22 areas of the county. RiverStreet Networks did the same thing a month before at the June work session of county leaders.

Buck commented how Cox Communications plans to spend $2.2 billion in Virginia within the next 10 years. She commented that New Kent County is a prime candidate for American Rescue Act Funding, an initiative started by Governor Ralph Northam to bring high-speed internet to rural localities.

The Cox representative continued, saying that while the application for the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) wasn’t accepted last year, the organization is continuing to press forward with a plan. Buck’s presentation displayed approximately 90 miles of new network cable to cover the aforementioned number of homes. That plan comes in with a price tag of just over $6 million.

Buck added that speeds for the Internet would provide upload and download speed. She emphasized that certain low-income families that meet criteria could have home Internet as low as $9.95 a month. That criterion includes having kids in grades K-12 and being on the free/reduced lunch plan. Speeds for that plan range from 50 megabytes per second for downloads and up to 3 megabytes per second for uploads.

While Buck’s presentation didn’t fall on deaf ears, it did agitate a few of the county leaders, especially those who had met with Cox Communications in a meeting two years ago.

“How can you do home school with that type of speed?” questioned District 5 representative John Lockwood, the newest member of the board of supervisors. “You need at least 100/100 [megabytes of upload and download], and now that number is closer to 120.”

Buck responded, saying that 50 megabytes was sufficient for video chatting and download speed.

“I respectfully disagree,” Lockwood retorted. “Upload speed has become critical, especially for telemedical.

“It has increased so significantly that it’s more important than download speed and that’s a trend everybody said will continue,” the District 5 supervisor added. “Realistically, I want to see fiber run to the homes and that was the recommendation we received from our broadband committee.

“We need a fix for the county, not a fix for a neighborhood or pocket of homes,” he concluded.

District 3 supervisor Patricia Paige, who was at the meeting two years ago with Cox Communications, recollected the things that took place at that gathering.

“My concern is that two years ago, we sat down and talked with Cox about a plan for New Kent,” she said. “I sent emails over and over and today, what you’ve showed me isn’t a plan.

“I like to be on the offense and it’s very difficult when you’re on the defensive,” Paige continued. “For me, it’s been almost two years since I asked for a plan, and I happen to be in agreement with Mr. Lockwood.”

Paige continued her monologue, acknowledging that the county has been in talks with several other Internet providers.

“If we’re going to compare services, it needs to be apples to apples,” she added. “I appreciate what Cox has done, but for me it doesn’t provide to me what we need as a county. If Cox is sensitive to the needs for the county and into it, they should know the needs of the county.

“What good is it to have a $9.95 a month plan if you need to have $13,000 just to get the line to your house?” Paige said as she wrapped up her comments. “What I need still hasn’t been truly received.”

Buck responded, saying that Cox Communications is in the same boat as many other providers when it comes to governor’s plan.

“A quarter of Virginia residents do not have high-speed internet and that’s why even the federal government is getting involve,” Buck said. “The governor has requested to add $700 million to the VATI grant fund. It is competitive process between companies and localities and in the end of the day, it comes down to economics. We want to invest but we are looking for support to offset the high cost of the initial build.”

District 1 supervisor and board chairman Thomas Evelyn was also at the meeting with Cox Communications two years ago. He agreed with Paige’s comments and said that the company had ample time to provide a structure and outlay to bring internet to the county.

“If we would have had that project [for broadband intent] a couple of years ago, we could have used CARES act money to support it,” he said. “If we had a whole plan together like you did for Gloucester, we may not be at this point.

“I understand what you’re saying, but I have an underserved part of the county,” Evelyn continued. “You said you’re committed to us, but I have seen otherwise.”
Evelyn presented Buck a map of the Whitehouse Farms area of the county.

“There are 62 homes in this area, and they’ve been asking for internet for a long time,” the chairman continued. “There are 25 homes within a mile. That’s the frustrating part on our end. We have this example of an area that needs it, especially as these people are first time home buyers with kids and they’re at a lost of what to do [when it comes to the internet].”

Buck concluded by saying that she plans to take the information back to her staff and hopes to provide a solidified plan to New Kent supervisors at a future meeting.