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Broadband internet has made its way to the southern end of the county.

A fiber broadband-enabled internet hotspot was recently installed at Bacon District Volunteer Fire Department as part of a $72,017 broadband funding grant Charlotte County was awarded in December.

“We had less than 60 days to get this project completed, and the grant funds were highly competitive,” County Administrator Dan Witt said. “The county was blessed to receive these funds.”

Before the Bacon District Fire Department hotspot, Charlotte County provided three fiber broadband-enabled internet hotspots for public access.

“Because of the location of Charlotte County’s incorporated towns, these hotspots are located in the upper half of the county,” the grant application said. “The location of these hotspots presents a difficulty of access and equity concern for the approximately 3,700 citizens in the southern portion of Charlotte County, who are, on average, more than 18 miles away from the closest fiber enabled publicly accessible internet hotspot.”

County officials sought the grant application due to the increased distance that leaves individuals in the Bacon District area of the county especially susceptible to the adverse effects presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the need for telehealth, telecommuting, and distance learning.

In addition to the hotspot at the Bacon District Volunteer Fire Department, there are 12 other hotspots located throughout the county made possible with CARES grant funding administered by the Library of Virginia and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Wi-Fi is available from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day. Users remain in their vehicles and connect to the Wi-Fi.

Locations include:

• Aspen Community Center, 101 Wall Lane (at railroad crossing in Aspen), Phenix.

• Midway Baptist Church, 2595 Midway Road, Phenix.

• Charlotte County Library, Main Library 112-116 LeGrande Avenue, Charlotte Court House.

• Cullen Baptist Church, 202 Taro Road, Cullen.

• Drakes Branch Museum, 4849 Main Street, Drakes Branch.

• Keysville Branch Library, 300 King Street, Keysville.

• New Hope United Methodist Church, 3515 Scuffletown Road, Randolph.

• Phenix Branch Library, 6830 Charlotte Street, Phenix.

• Red House Volunteer Fire Dept., 9467 Red House Road, Red House.

• Salem Church, 4050 Tobacco Hill Road, Red Oak.

•Lebanon United Methodist Church, 11135 Crafton’s Gate Highway, Drakes Branch. 

• Wylliesburg Community Library, 768 Barnesville Highway, Wylliesburg.

At the library locations, connect to cchlibrary. No password is needed.

At other locations, connect to kajeetsmartbus. The password is smartbus.