Taskforce endorses Nsight, Spectrum, Brightspeed and AT&T; forwards resolutions to administration committee

The Oconto County Broadband Taskforce voted Jan. 9 to approve endorsement resolutions for four internet service providers—Nsight, Spectrum, Brightspeed and AT&T—and to forward those resolutions to the county Administration Committee for action. The motion, moved by Dennis Kroll and seconded by Mike Beyer, was recorded as carried.

TEDCOR Executive Director Jayme Sellen told the Taskforce that most ISPs in the BEAD process have received conditional approvals from the Public Service Commission (PSC) and that the PSC will award grants based on the costs to serve each Project Unit. Sellen also said there is a collusion clause in the grant process that prevents ISPs from negotiating service areas among themselves. The committee packet included four draft ISP endorsement resolutions, a map of the county’s five Project Units, and a table listing unserved and underserved locations.

Committee members discussed ISP readiness and affordability practices. The Town of Chase has Nsight’s letter of support scheduled on its town board agenda, and Sellen said she has not heard from Bug Tussel about interest in serving any Project Units. Chair David Behrend emphasized that awarded ISPs must meet the BEAD speed requirement of at least 100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up.

The endorsements will move to the Administration Committee for formal consideration; the Taskforce set a follow-up meeting for Feb. 11, 2025. No vote tallies were recorded in the minutes beyond the notation that the motion ‘‘was voted on and carried.’’