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County update: ARPA broadband money, fiber passings and Starlink equipment for unserved households
Summary
Staff updated the committee on roughly $500,000 in remaining ARPA broadband funds, a recommended $457,000 contract to add 70 passings via Slick Network Solutions, and statewide FCC awards that leave many households eligible for Starlink equipment but responsible for installation.
County staff told the committee there is about $500,000 of ARPA broadband funding remaining and that the committee recommended awarding a contract to Slick Network Solutions (proposal approximately $457,000) to deliver about 70 new passings across Cambridge, Greenfield, Argyle and Granville Hill. Staff said the contractor has not yet signed the contract but assured the county the work can be completed and billed before the ARPA deadline.
Staff reviewed New York’s federal broadband award resubmission to the FCC: earlier plans allocated about 234 fiber passings to a fiber provider (Verizon) and 786 passings to satellite providers; after FCC cost reviews some fiber allocations were reduced (fiber down to about 220 passings) and additional locations were assigned to Starlink or fixed wireless. For Washington County, the remaining fiber passings are concentrated in Hampton, Whitehall and Granville.
Staff said Starlink will provide equipment to unserved households in areas not covered by fiber but that households will, in many cases, need to arrange and pay for installation (roof‑mounted antenna and app‑based alignment). "They will mail it to them, but you're gonna have to find your own installer," staff said. Staff added that fiber providers who accept awards will have up to four years from contract signing to complete construction.
Why it matters: the mix of fiber and satellite awards affects which households will get high‑capacity fiber versus consumer‑installed satellite equipment, and ARPA-funded local passings must be completed and billed within the ARPA program deadline.
The committee did not take a final contract vote in this meeting; staff said they are awaiting the contractor’s signed agreement.
