B2X Online says Campbell County broadband expansion to be complete in weeks

CAMPBELL COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) - For residents in Rustburg and all across Campbell County, a critical project will be completed in the next few weeks - broadband expansion.

Salem-based B2X Online got the nod for that last summer.

They say towers are already up and running.

“It’s been a wonderful thing to be able to know that we’re helping the students and helping people work from home,” said Warren Kane, B2X Online CEO.

Kane says adjustments had to be made on the project.

They scrapped construction of a monopole to instead install equipment at other sites.

Kane says of the 11 total sites, eight towers are online. Three sites will have final touches done soon.

“Those three towers are slated to come on here within the next few weeks,” said Kane.

Broadband expansion hasn’t come without its challenges.

Kane says getting power to the sites has been an issue. He says it’s a matter of logistics with several power companies.

“Because the way Campbell’s laid out, they pass through four different power companies,” said Kane. “And we’re having to work with those power companies to turn them on.”

But after all the towers are online, Kane says the work isn’t done.

The county prepaid for the first 1,000 connections. B2X plans to get all of those done.

“One of the things that we’ve been really pushing for is trying to say look, the county has prepaid for your connection. All you have to do is call us and if you’re in the areas that the service is there - it’s a free connection,” said Kane.

The project was funded with CARES Act dollars.

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