Commissioners approve one-year AT&T contract extensions while seeking competitive pricing

Facing expiring internet-service contracts, Newton County commissioners approved one-year AT&T contract extensions (contract IDs cited: MIS14160145 and MIS14176122) to avoid potential interruptions to courthouse and law-enforcement connectivity while staff seeks competitive pricing.

An IT/vendor contact who identified himself as Shannon (Shannon Pontier appears in the transcript) joined the meeting remotely to explain that AT&T's recent contract paperwork functions as a 12-month extension that would lock current pricing and noted the county would not immediately lose service if contracts were not signed. Commissioners expressed concern about cost, hidden fees for new fiber runs and the absence of a complete pricing schedule in the meeting packet. The court nevertheless approved interim one‑year contracts and asked Shannon and county staff to obtain bids and pricing comparisons from AT&T, Spectrum, Windstream and Highline before next year's decisions.

One commissioner emphasized the need to avoid losing internet service for law enforcement and courthouse operations; the court directed staff to gather competitor quotes and a full pricing schedule for follow-up review.