Windstream seeks county support for broadband expansion; agreement amendment approved

Windstream representatives told the Habersham County Board of Commissioners on Monday that the company seeks the board’s support as it pursues federal and state broadband funds to expand high-speed service in the county, and commissioners approved an amendment to the county’s existing public-private partnership agreement.

Josh Baker, operations manager for Windstream, said the company has deep local roots, serves roughly 24,000 locations in the county and has completed about 146 miles of fiber with an additional 117 miles to finish. Baker said Windstream has invested $3,250,000 alongside an earlier state award of about $5,670,000 (figures cited by the presenter). He asked the commission for a letter of support — not county funds — so Windstream can pursue awards through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program to extend service to roughly 1,600 addresses Windstream classifies as underserved or unserved.

Baker described permitting hurdles the project faces, including forestry permits that consider protected species (the presenter referenced gray bats and monarch butterflies) and coordination with local power companies on pole work. He said Windstream defines “underserved” as locations with less than 100 Mbps and “unserved” as less than 25 Mbps in downstream speeds.

County staff explained the state restructured the grant award to a fixed-award model and increased the award amount; the county was asked to approve an amendment recognizing those changes and to record the amended agreement in the minutes for audit purposes. Commissioners approved the amendment on a voice vote and directed staff to include the amended agreement in meeting minutes and forward the documentation for audit.

Ending Windstream’s representative thanked the commission; the company will move forward with grant applications and permitting work and county staff will record and file the amended agreement for audit.