Orange County, Lumos to host ribbon-cutting for Broadband network

Lumos, a leading 100% Fiber Optic Internet and Total Home Wi-Fi service provider in the Mid-Atlantic, and Orange County will celebrate the launch of the company’s service with a ribbon cutting at Orange Rural Fire Station #2 (835 Phelps Road, Hillsborough, NC 27278) on Tuesday at 11 a.m. Lumos’ network will bring reliable, high-speed internet access to areas that were previously unserved and underserved, empowering residents and small businesses with enhanced digital experiences.

The previously announced partnership between Lumos and Orange County is one of the largest public-private partnerships for fiber infrastructure in North Carolina history. It includes significant investments from Lumos and Orange County’s American Rescue Plan Act funds to reach more than 6,300 unserved homes in the County. Lumos also committed millions more to increase the scope of the project to serve an additional 22,000 addresses.

"We are thrilled to launch our 100% Fiber Optic Internet service in Orange County," said Brian Stading, CEO of Lumos. “The launch represents the epitome of a successful public-private partnership as Lumos and Orange County have creatively collaborated to exceed the original scope of the project to reach more unserved and underserved households throughout the County.” 

Lumos is working on its six-phase plan to build its network as quickly as possible, which will utilize nearly 1,000 miles of fiber. The project is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2024. When it is complete, almost all of Orange County will have access to affordable, high-speed Internet service. 

“This project will help ensure that Orange County residents have access to affordable, high-speed Internet,” said Jamezetta Bedford, chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners. “The pandemic highlighted how important reliable Internet service is for our children’s education, for small businesses, for public health and for other critical needs for our residents. Improving Internet access for our rural areas has long been a priority for the Board of Commissioners, our state delegation, and we are truly excited to be taking the lead in providing this critical piece of infrastructure throughout the county. We appreciate the federal ARPA funds supporting this partnership."

The Orange County Board of Commissioners created a Broadband Task Force in 2021. The group included representatives from the two school systems and five members of the community and studied how the county could facilitate bringing high-speed, affordable Internet to rural areas. 

Orange County Vice Chair Earl McKee and Commissioner Sally Greene co-chaired the Task Force, which created the RFP that led to the contract with Lumos. The Board of Commissioners approved allocating $10 million in ARPA funding to the project.

Orange County is one of the first counties in the state to utilize ARPA funds to provide Broadband services in unserved and underserved areas.

Media Contact:

Todd McGee
Orange County Community Relations Director
(919) 245-2302
tmcgee@orangecountync.gov