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County renews broadband construction and monitoring contracts; last year spending topped $379,000 for outside-plant work
Summary
Columbia County extended multiple one-year broadband contracts — including outside-plant construction and network monitoring — citing last-year expenditures of roughly $379,000 with Highlighter Cable Services and approximately $23,000 for monitoring services from Excedion.
Columbia County approved renewals of several broadband-related vendor agreements covering outside-plant fiber construction, equipment and network monitoring.
Mr. Blanchard, a county staff member who presented the items, said the contracts cover work such as trenching, conduit and fiber placement (outside plant) and network monitoring equipment and licensing. ‘‘This is how they bring new customers on and connect out in the field,’’ he said of the outside-plant contractors.
The county extended one-year renewals through June 30, 2026, for Total Outdoor Plant Solutions (TOPS), Excedion and Highlighter Cable Services. Blanchard told commissioners the county spent $379,000 with Highlighter last year; Excedion’s monitoring agreement was about $23,000 annually in the most recent year, with additional equipment bought as needed. He said TOPS work is paid on a usage basis and that TOPS and Highlighter often work complementary roles during busy road projects.
Commissioners approved the renewals on consent. County staff indicated year-to-year variation in outside-plant spending depending on capital projects, particularly road widening, which can raise demand for outside-plant construction.
Why it matters: The renewals maintain the county’s ability to build and operate the local broadband network and reflect material capital spending tied to county road and broadband expansion projects.
What’s next: Staff will continue to purchase equipment and services as projects require under the renewed agreements; the county will monitor annual expenditures and bring contract awards to the commission as needed.
