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Yavapai County details ARPA and BEAD broadband buildout; vendors report near‑term completions but BLM permit delays remain
Summary
County broadband manager told the Board the ARPA‑funded phase has moved most projects into construction, with Cox, Sparklight and WECOM as principal contractors; a BEAD award managed by WECOM aims to reach ~22,437 unserved locations but federal permits are delaying a small number of homes.
Corey Christians, Yavapai County librarian and the county’s broadband project manager, told the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 19 that a multi‑year push combining E‑Rate, ARPA and BEAD funding has put the county on track to expand fiber service across many rural communities.
Christians said the county’s earlier middle‑mile buildout (initiated in 2017 and completed by Sparklight for schools and libraries) put Yavapai ahead of much of the state. The Board dedicated ARPA funds to last‑mile projects in 2021; after RFP returns the county committed roughly $16 million of ARPA funds to enable private providers’ builds. “Cox Communications received almost $3,800,000 in funds. WECOM received about $8,000,000. Sparklight received exactly $5,000,000,”…
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