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Commissioners authorize RFP engagement for broadband towers; project to use ReadyGram grant funds
Summary
The county authorized work on a broadband towers RFP that county staff said would be paid from ReadyGram grant funds and would not require county general-fund outlay; commissioners approved authorization to proceed.
County staff presented an RFP from Mainstream (the only proposer) to place broadband towers intended to reach locations where fiber is not feasible, including last-mile coverage for unserved residents. The presentation said the RFP totals $344,519.94 and that ReadyGram grant funds would cover the cost so there would be no county out-of-pocket expense.
Staff described the broader broadband context: multiple companies have proposed placing fiber inside Hartford City, Montpelier already has fiber, and fiber is being extended toward the county. Staff cautioned that federal BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) funding has been slow to result in deployment nationally and that towers are a complementary solution where fiber cannot reach individual properties.
A motion to authorize proceeding with the RFP and to engage Mainstream as proposed was made and seconded. Commissioners discussed ongoing county interviews with firms and the broader approach to fiber; transcript does not record a roll-call tally for the RFP motion but staff proceeded to the next agenda item after the motion, indicating the commissioners authorized moving forward.
Staff said the ReadyGram account has sufficient funds to cover the RFP amount and emphasized that the RFP would help connect residents who cannot be served by fiber alone.
