REC Celebrates Nearly 8,000 Connected to Broadband Internet
REC proudly marks a significant milestone in its mission to ensure broadband connectivity across our communities, with nearly 8,000 Cooperative members now enjoying high-speed broadband internet thanks to our strategic partnership with Firefly Fiber Broadband, a wholly owned subsidiary of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative.
This monumental milestone highlights REC’s efforts to bring high-speed internet to unserved and underserved communities.
“We take great pride in our ongoing partnership with Firefly, which is delivering remarkable progress in expanding broadband access across five counties,” said John D. Hewa, REC’s President and CEO.
“Together with our contractors, REC has successfully constructed a fiber network in parts of Albemarle, Louisa, Madison, Greene and Goochland counties, which Firefly is now leasing to connect our members to reliable high-speed internet.”
In total, over 11,500 REC members are registered for Firefly’s broadband service, and several thousand additional REC members are registered for broadband as a result of REC’s partnerships with other internet service providers. Make-ready construction is nearly 95% complete on 2,650 miles of fiber to the home that will be leased by Firefly in the counties of Louisa, Greene, Goochland, Madison and Albemarle.*
REC is collaborating with a variety of contractors who are working in all phases of the project to build the fiber network. Make-ready engineering is when workers go to each pole to determine if any modifications are required to support the fiber and its associated steel strand. Make-ready construction is when contractors set new poles or make other system modifications so that fiber construction crews can then come in and install the fiber.
Check to see if Firefly will serve your area and then register for service at fireflyva.com. Once registered, you’ll be notified when service is available in your area.
* Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the number of REC members registered for Firefly’s broadband service and the percentage of construction completed. The article originally stated that more than 10,000 REC members were registered, when the correct figure is over 11,500. It also stated that 95% of construction was completed; the accurate statement is that 95% of make-ready construction is nearly complete.