Appalachian Power adds first fiber optic lines to rural Virginia

Power Poles in Virginia’s rural Grayson County owned by Appalachian Power gained their first fiber optic cables last week, putting the region on the path toward high-speed internet.

“It is exciting to see the fiber being deployed in Grayson County that will provide residents with incredibly fast internet service,” Del. Israel O’Quinn (R-Virginia) said. “I consider the enabling legislation the most important bill I have passed, and the impact will be immeasurable as the infrastructure that is being put in place is future-proof.”

The Virginia State Corporation Commission approved the pilot project in March. Appalachian Power intends to install up to 238 miles of 96-strand fiber optic cable across utility poles in the county. While installation is just beginning, the intervening months have consisted of contract negotiations with GigaBeam Networks, engineering of the fiber optic network, site inspections, and ordering of necessary supplies.

Once finished, GigaBeam will use the fiber optic lines to provide internet connectivity to unserved customers in the county.

“I’m proud of the ingenuity shown by our employees and project partners,” Chris Beam, Appalachian Power president and COO, said. “This is a true partnership. While providing a safe and reliable electric product, we’ve found another way we can support and connect with our customers and communities.”

While Appalachian Power is still finalizing the necessary rate adjustment clause filing associated with the project, it’s expected the fiber optics work will take between 18 to 24 months before all county residents have access to the provided internet. Meanwhile, the cable will also support the company’s installation of smart meters and equipment dedicated to pinpointing and correcting faults on circuits, which Appalachian Power hopes will shorten outages.