Loudoun County Communications Commission Meeting - October 1, 2024
Loudoun County Communications Commission Meeting - October 1, 2024
The Loudoun County Communications Commission (LCC) convened on October 1, 2024, to address franchisee updates, broadband progress, and preparations for the annual Board of Supervisors report. Key topics included the VATI broadband project, Comcast's service improvements, and a discussion on wireless coverage challenges. No formal votes were taken except the approval of the agenda and prior meeting minutes.
Consent Calendar
- Agenda and Minutes: The agenda was amended to include introductions, and the July 22, 2024 meeting minutes were approved by general consent.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jeff Rogers (resident near the West Virginia border) expressed interest in the VATI project, particularly its progress and how to interpret visual aids. Staff provided an update: over 70 miles of middle-mile fiber completed (nearly 50% of total), with approximately 90% either complete or under construction. The first customer connection is expected by year-end, likely in FSA2 (the area where Mr. Rogers lives). Staff clarified that Mr. Rogers's home is part of a secondary 200-home ARPA-funded expansion, not the original VATI grant, but could be served concurrently if infrastructure passes by.
Discussion Items
- Comcast Update: Christopher Mulhall and Dexter Williams (incoming Government Affairs Manager) reported progress on LEx tickets (6 open tickets, some delayed due to hard-to-find pedestals). The PEG channel upgrade for schools was completed on the day of the meeting, delayed earlier due to school hardware changes.
- Verizon: No representative present; item skipped.
- 2024 Board of Supervisors (BoS) Status Report: Chair Ron DeSilva apologized for lacking an updated slide deck. Commissioners discussed dividing sections; Dave Frederick (staff) will handle the VATI update. Rich Bibeau offered mapping support; staff will explore licensing FCC data via the state to improve maps. The discussion also covered the recent School Board decision to ban new cell towers on school property, noting the vote was 8-1 and the policy affects only locations with school children. Some commissioners expressed interest in formal guidance from the BoS on wireless coverage issues, while others argued for keeping the topic on the action list pending further engagement.
- Staff Report: Dave Frederick shared an updated VATI map (from July) showing FSA2 (red) ahead in middle-mile construction. LEx tickets remain low (6 between Comcast and Verizon). HOAs are being directed to open tickets directly with providers first. Staff noted October 29th as the deadline if the BoS annual update is to be presented in November.
Key Outcomes
- Action Item Updates: Aaron Smith reviewed open action items. Motion to close item 253 ("speak to supervisors regarding wireless coverage") was made and seconded, but after debate the motion was withdrawn pending a more defined action item. Two new action items were added: (1) Ron DeSilva will circulate a draft presentation outline for the BoS report, and (2) staff will work on overlay maps for county coverage. A third new item directs commissioners to resend the earlier list of wireless questions to staff.
- Next Meeting: October 28, 2024.
Meeting Transcript
Excellent, thank you. Uh we've got um at least one new member present. Um and I would love to take a moment just to go around the room um to introduce uh ourselves to him and him to us. And also we um are uh getting a new representative from um both Comcast and Verizon, and I'll take a moment to see if um they'd like to also introduce themselves to everybody at the same time and then we'll jump into the agenda. So if there's no objection, I'll take a moment to do that. Um and then we'll we'll we'll pick up the uh the agenda in the minutes. Um as Jason. Why don't we go ahead and have our call to order and we'll add that to the agenda and we can approve that as part of the agenda? Excellent suggestion. Yeah, excellent suggestion. I see uh looks like everybody present from the um from the committee, so glad to see that. Uh I think it's the first time we've had everybody here. And uh that is quorum. So first order business was uh the agenda. Are there besides the suggested uh addition to the agenda that uh we just discussed, are there any changes or additional changes or adjustments to the to the agenda as as uh distributed move to approve the agenda as amended Sir Second Second by Aaron? All in favor say aye. Any opposed abstentions carries unanimously, that's our agenda. So to the first order of the business, then is um I'm Ron DeSilva, uh current chair of the Loudon County Communication Commission Commission here, um representing the Dulles district district, and I'll maybe go in my screen. Um counterclockwise in room, first calling on uh Jason. Yes, I'm Jason Kennedy. I represent the struggling district. Uh this is my third term sitting on the commission. I try and get talked to district Taylor's town. Chris Hilton, um Melberg representing La River. Uh Aaron Smith. I'm the only I'm the L CPS representative, so I don't have a board of supervisors or a district. Um, but I think I've been here for eight or nine years. It's been a lot. Um DAT. I'm a technician. Um part of the board. Wow. Um Rich Bibe from uh Waterford, Round Hill Canon Springs. I was appointed uh with uh Phyllis's outlarst position. And um I was the previous uh member um chair of the commission when we went from a committee to a commission. Um so I'm happy to be back and um really really have to see what's going on in in county and do a lot of work around around the uh of the state and the country with uh problem. Scott Farber, El Gongian. Uh this is my first term. Frank Stone, Broad Run District. This is also my first term of the commission. Excellent. Thanks, uh Commissioners. And then along the back wall, we have some support um from the county. Maybe I'll call you guys out just briefly to introduce yourselves. Yep, John Baylis, the CIO for county. Good evening. My name is Chris Heyer. I work for these two gentlemen in customers born. And Dave, who are you? Hello.
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