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Broadband bids advance in Carlisle County; commissioners weigh Gibson, Windstream proposals
Summary
Officials reviewed broadband proposals from Gibson, Windstream and others, discussed an $11 million bid targeting 400+ households and noted the county's Windstream contract runs until August 2026; commissioners agreed to invite a Gibson representative back with details.
Carlisle County officials discussed competing broadband proposals and plans to review vendor details before deciding whether to add a redundant connection to the courthouse.
County representatives said Gibson has placed a bid of about $11 million to cover more than 400 homes across the county, and that Windstream and WK&T also have proposals under consideration. Staff cautioned the court that the county's contract with Windstream runs through August 2026 and that switching providers or making Gibson the primary carrier could require examining buyout costs.
A county official said adding Gibson as a backup link would require a network switch in the courthouse mezzanine; Knights Technologies (the county's IT contractor) advised such a switch would be a modest expense, "less than a couple thousand." The Gibson representative (Tony Jones) has visited county offices and the court agreed to invite him back to present a fuller plan and pricing for courtroom and office coverage.
Officials discussed sample pricing offered by Gibson: a $149 one-time connection fee for a 500 Mbps line, with an additional ~$10 per room for wired coverage (bringing a fully provisioned courthouse to roughly $200 per month, the official said). The county pays roughly $700 per month currently for its existing line; Gibson's quoted ballpark pricing would be lower in staff's estimate.
Commissioners agreed to pursue further information, ask the county attorney about contract-exit costs from Windstream, and schedule a follow-up presentation by Gibson's representative.
