Wyoming Business Council approves two ARPA‑CPF broadband projects and $900,000 compliance contract

The Wyoming Business Council on a special virtual meeting approved two broadband projects funded from the American Rescue Plan Act Capital Projects Fund (ARPA‑CPF), continued a mapping contract with Lightbox, and authorized a monitoring, reporting and compliance contract with CTC.

Brandon Marshall, the council’s service director, told the board the two projects brought forward use remaining ARPA‑CPF funds created after earlier award adjustments. He said Visionary Communications’ “Cheyenne Ranchets” project proposes to serve 330 locations — 247 previously identified as unserved and 83 as underserved — while Mountain West Technologies proposed a northwest Casper project to serve 98 locations, 97 of which staff said are unserved. Staff quoted Mountain West’s project price as $932,452. “These are excellent projects to serve citizens of Wyoming in those locations,” said David Johnson, technical consultant to the Broadband office.

The board also authorized a three‑year, fixed‑price contract with CTC for monitoring, reporting and compliance services tied to ARPA‑CPF grants. Joan Hovis of CTC said the contract will fund system design, field verification, periodic federal reporting and other compliance checks so the state can ensure reimbursement‑based payments are made only for demonstrated build‑out. Marshall described the contract price as $900,000 and said the work would continue through June 30, 2027. “This is about all of the services necessary and required by the federal government so that the funds are not questioned or taken back because of non‑compliance,” Hovis said.

Board members asked how reporting and enforcement would work. Hovis and staff explained awardees sign binding reporting obligations, provide technical data to the Broadband office, and that payments are on a reimbursement basis; staff said they will perform site visits, vet data and recommend against payments if performance or reporting falls short. A board member also noted the contracts allow network expansion beyond the immediate project areas and staff clarified Visionary’s project does not include the Point subdivision in Cheyenne.

The board moved and voted to approve the two project contracts and the CTC compliance contract; the transcript records the motions as carried with unanimous “all in favor” voice votes, and no roll‑call tallies were provided in the meeting record.

The board also approved continuing the Lightbox mapping contract, which staff said enables comparison of the council’s location‑level data to federal FCC maps and allows access to fabric mapping data for up to 10 state agencies under inter‑agency agreements. Steve, a Lightbox representative, noted the company has provided mapping services to the state since August 2022. “It is critical to our BEAD application process and to give the public a view of broadband availability,” David Johnson said.

Next procedural steps: staff indicated they likely will return to the board at the September meeting with additional projects to fully allocate the $7.5 million program, and that they will onboard the new Broadband manager for more detailed presentations.