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County staff: ISPs have until end of 2026 to complete ARPA broadband projects; Salem project complete
Summary
County staff told the commission that internet service providers awarded ARPA-funded projects have until the end of 2026 to complete work; Salem is reported complete and staff said they are in regular contact with ISPs and will report start dates for Locapulco and Beauregard at a future meeting.
During public comment, Lakisha Young Hicks asked the commission for a broadband update for Locapulco and Beauregard. County staff responded that the contracts for the ARPA-funded broadband projects give ISPs until the end of 2026 to finish work and that the Salem project has already been completed.
A county staff member told the commission that the projects submitted to the county were constructed as 12-month projects and that the county is in regular quarterly monitoring contact with vendors because the county must report progress to ARPA. The staff member said there are clawback clauses in the agreements that limit an ISP’s ability to withdraw from a project but noted bankruptcy or business failure would be outside normal remedies.
The staff member agreed to gather and provide more specific start-date information for Locapulco and Beauregard and said the county had been pushing ISPs for quarterly monitoring reports to track progress and reimbursements. Commissioners and the public asked staff to keep the projects prioritized and asked that the commission be informed of start dates at future meetings.
Why it matters ARPA-funded broadband projects affect internet access in underserved parts of Lee County. Deadlines and monitoring clauses will determine whether projects proceed promptly and whether the county can seek remedies for missed performance.
Next steps County staff will contact contract ISPs, request updated start dates and provide a detailed status report at an upcoming commission meeting.
