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Gilliam County approves up to $150,000 addendum to Lightspeed Networks contract to continue broadband design
Summary
The county court approved a phase 3 addendum to the existing engineering contract with Lightspeed Networks to bridge the project through federal funding decisions, authorizing up to $150,000 for engineering and design over roughly 12 months.
Gilliam County Court voted on March 5 to approve a phase 3 addendum to the county’s engineering services contract with Lightspeed Networks, authorizing an amount not to exceed $150,000 to continue project design and pre‑award engineering while federal broadband funding decisions proceed.
County staff said the addendum is intended as bridge funding so Lightspeed can complete engineering and design work the county needs to submit the final application and to qualify for federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) or similar awards. Staff noted the BTAP study grant that supported prequalification expired Feb. 28 and that costs incurred under the phase 3 contract will count toward Gilliam County’s matching requirement if federal funding is awarded.
Nick Green, the county’s broadband consultant (email read into the record), recommended an amount between $100,000 and $150,000; the court adopted the higher figure as "not to exceed $150,000" to cover 12 months of engineering support and preserve continuity with the existing vendor.
Motion language and outcome: the court moved and seconded a motion "to approve the phase 3 addendum to the Gilliam County engineering related service contract with Lightspeed Networks, not to exceed $150,000." The motion passed by voice vote; the record shows the court answered "Aye" and the chair declared the motion carried.
County staff said the addendum will allow ongoing contract work to continue without interruption while federal program decisions are finalized and that all eligible expenses would count toward the county’s match if award funding follows.
