To say that Goochland County residents surpassed expectations in a recent survey on broadband would be putting it mildly. A more appropriate description would be that county staff was “overwhelmed.”

In the recent survey, which was mailed out to roughly 3,000 households throughout the county, the consultants from CBG Communications, Inc. received more than 900, a 30 percent return-rate that, in the world of statistics and research, is outstanding.

“They thought that we’d be lucky if we got 10 percent of them back,” said the county’s director of information systems, Bill Cleveland. “And for us to get 30 percent back was just overwhelming.”

The Board of Supervisors authorized hiring Philadelphia, Pa.-based CBG Communications last December in an effort to figure out the best way for Goochland County to approach the issue of broadband access.

It was standing room only for a forum on the issue that the consultants held in January. There, an overflowing crowd of frustrated residents voiced their desire to have better services.

Then, CBG’s Executive Vice President Tom Robinson and Dr. Connie Book helped gather the information and drive the discussion. Since, CBG has met with county officials and community groups,  continuing to put together the pieces of the infrastructure puzzle.

In addition to the forum and the survey, residents were also given an e-mail address that could be used to submit comments if a particular person didn’t receive the questionnaire.

Though the majority of the eastern end and parts of central Goochland enjoy access, there are pockets in both areas that do not. And the farther west one travels, the less likely they’ll have providers such as Comcast or Verizon offering them services.

And for most of the western end of Goochland, there is little cellular phone service, which makes matters worse.

Book and Robinson told attendees at the Jan. 24 forum that CBG would be putting its recommendation to the board in late March or early April once the firm has had the chance to gather all of the information. But Cleveland said the consultants have told county staff that such a report will be delivered to the board in July.

“We expect them to make a full report then,” he added. “They’ve fed us some sections of their report but we haven’t seen all of it or any of the survey results, for example.”

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to hold its regular meeting in July on the first Tuesday. Chances are that the broadband discussion will happen in the afternoon on July 1.

While Goochland’s return of the 914 surveys was all but unexpected, it wasn’t totally out of the blue.

“We really have been amazed with the response from the community,” Cleveland said. “And we’re really anxious to see what they come up with.”

Robinson initially told the supervisors that CBG expected to receive 10 percent of the surveys but added he wouldn’t be surprised to see that number rise to 30 percent because of the subject matter and the community’s desire for services.

“Where local governments failed has been when they determined what they think they need before seeing what the community wants,” he told the board earlier this year.

Cleveland said even with a recommendation from CBG, as well as different options and information, it will take some time to implement whatever plan is ultimately agreed upon.

“We also need people to be patient,” he said. “We know everyone is cranked up but we are a good year or two away from any action on the county’s part. This is just going to take some time.”