According to the 2020 FCC Broadband Consumer Guide, broadband, or high-speed internet access, allows users to access the internet and internet-related services at significantly higher speeds than those available through dial-up services. Broadband speeds vary significantly depending on the technology and level of service ordered. Broadband services for residential consumers typically provide faster download speeds (from the internet to your computer) than upload speeds (from your computer to the internet).

Areas considered “unserved by broadband” are areas determined by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and according to the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) guidelines and requirements. To verify you are in an eligible area, contact the internet service provider (ISP) partner for your county.

Dominion Energy is installing fiber optic communications cable in many areas of our service territory in an effort to transform Virginia’s energy grid into a more reliable and resilient system. As part of that work, we are also providing middle-mile broadband capacity to ISPs in unserved rural areas. It is often too expensive for ISPs to install fiber across the long distances that exist between the largest data connections and homes and businesses. We can fill that void by using Dominion Energy’s telecommunications network to bridge the gap by making our broadband capacity available to ISPs in unserved communities.

It’s cost effective for Internet Service Providers to install fiber for broadband in areas that are populated. But in certain rural areas it is often too costly to install if used solely for broadband service. Dominion Energy may be able to install the middle-mile and therefore shorten the last mile for ISPs to provide less-populated communities with broadband internet.

Dominion Energy is installing fiber optic communications cable in many areas of our service territory in an effort to transform Virginia’s energy grid into a more reliable and resilient system. As part of that work, we are also providing excess middle-mile broadband capacity to ISPs in unserved rural areas.

Dominion Energy is not an Internet Service Provider. We are installing fiber in rural areas as we continue to transform Virginia’s energy grid and improve system reliability and grid security. By utilizing fiber capacity for both our operational needs and for broadband access, Dominion Energy can help reduce broadband deployment costs for ISPs to reach unserved homes and businesses.

We are partnering with ISPs to determine routes needed for broadband expansion. Dominion Energy is offering to serve as the middle-mile provider for fiber. When eligible areas are identified by partner ISPs, the Rural Broadband project team will work to add fiber optic cable to our existing infrastructure.

Because the middle-mile program is planned throughout our rural service area, both Dominion Energy employees and our contractors will be involved—in project management, design, right of way, easements, communications and installation/removal of equipment. Refer to the projects section of the Rural Broadband page for authorized contractors working on each project location.

The time required will vary among projects. Property owners will be notified in advance of a scheduled project. Dominion Energy is not an Internet Service Provider; however, these projects help ISPs offer broadband service to additional homes and businesses that do not currently have broadband options. Please refer to the projects section of this webpage for more details on internet service expansion by ISPs.

For most of Dominion Energy’s middle-mile fiber projects, the only additional equipment will be the addition of a single new communications cable attached to poles without interfering with power lines or other communications infrastructure. Occasionally, a coil bracket with extra fiber may be attached to a pole for future repair efficiency. When an additional fiber optic cable is added, the existing poles may not be adequate and the project team will coordinate replacement with a new pole that meets today’s standards.

We will install our fiber optic cable in the “supply space” or the uppermost portion of the pole. As shown here, our fiber optic cable will be installed six inches below the existing neutral. Fiber optic cable is relatively thin, about the width of your middle finger.

Along with safety, respecting property is a top priority for Dominion Energy and our contractors. We notify property owners via direct mail prior to installation to minimize impact and inconvenience.

In the event a brief outage is needed during fiber optic cable construction, crews will work with the project team to notify customers in advance, whenever possible.

In most cases, Dominion Energy Virginia will not require easements to install fiber optic cable along our infrastructure. In rare cases, a supplemental communications agreement may be required to support the attachment of fiber optic cable.

Underground conversions are not within the scope of this project. When installing fiber optic cable, we will follow the route of our existing infrastructure. In most cases, if there are overhead facilities, we will install fiber optic cable overhead. If our electric facilities are underground, we will install fiber optic cable underground.