Title
Community Broadband Network Study Progress Update
Body
The notion of improving the community's access to high speed internet services was studied in 2012 resulting in the 2013 Community Broadband Network (CBN) Study by Crestino Telecommunications Solutions. At the time, no further implementation action was taken due to the high cost and other infrastructure funding priorities. However, since that time the community's desire for improved internet connectivity persists and has heightened with the shift of more students doing remote learning and people tele-working and businesses offering their services and goods online - both during the Covid-19 pandemic and into the foreseeable future. Furthermore, the state and federal governments have taken action to fund expansion of broadband networks that will be available through grants over the next several years as programs are developed. For all these reasons, Council authorized $500,000 in the County's fiscal year 2022 budget to update the CBN study to identify and estimate necessary and/or potential investments in broadband infrastructure and evaluate service delivery options within the County.
A service agreement was executed in March 2022 with Columbia Telecommunications Corporation (CTC) dba CTC Technology and Energy. CTC's update presentation is included as Attachment A and draft community survey questions are included as Attachment B. This study update to improve broadband access within the County is progressing simultaneously with the County exploring middle-mile partnership and funding opportunities as separate yet coordinated efforts.
Attachments
A - Community Broadband Network Study Update Presentation
B - DRAFT Internet Usage Survey Questions