Cache County council unanimously backs letter supporting Comcast BEED grant application

Cache County Council voted unanimously at its meeting to provide a nonexclusive letter of support for Comcast’s application to the Utah Broadband Center’s BEED (Broadband Equity, Access and Development) program.

County staff described the BEED program as the state’s vehicle for distributing roughly $317,000,000 in federal broadband funds for Utah and said the county has more than 1,200 locations the state has identified as underserved or unserved. Andrew (county staff) told the council the letter is nonexclusive — the county could issue similar letters to other registered providers — and that local letters can earn applicants additional points in the state’s scoring matrix.

Steve Proper, who identified himself as a long-time Comcast employee doing consulting for the company, told the council Comcast expects to contribute “50% or more” of project costs in many cases and that applicants will work with the state to “scrub” the list of identified locations to determine which addresses truly need service. Paul Davis, with the Bear River Association of Governments, described the countywide mapping and speed testing used to identify coverage gaps and said the preferred solution is fiber-to-the-door where feasible.

Council members asked whether the federal funds require a local match; staff and presenters said the state’s construction grant does not require a local government match for construction, though providers must show a level of provider contribution and local costs for feasibility and land work may be required. Staff also said the Utah Broadband Center had extended an application deadline to April 24 to accommodate delays.

A motion to provide the letter as written was moved, seconded and approved unanimously. The council’s letter is nonexclusive and will be included in Comcast’s application to the state broadband office; the state will make final funding decisions.