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Local internet provider presses county on who owns Beehive-installed fiber
Summary
A Quick Link Internet representative asked the commission whether Box Elder County owns fiber installed by Beehive; commissioners said ownership likely rests with the installing company or state, noted federal/state/ARPA funding, and directed the representative to state broadband contacts and the county's contractor for clarification.
Matt Tingue of Quick Link Internet asked the commission whether fiber installed by Beehive is owned by Box Elder County and raised concerns about private companies' access to networks built with public funds. "I'm Matt Tingue, and I'm with Quick Link Internet," he said when introduced; he later asked, "So Box Elder County does not own the fiber?"
Commissioners responded that, based on the grant agreements and contracting structure, ownership is likely with the installing company or the state rather than the county. Commissioner Summers said some funding sources included federal, state and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and that ARPA funds were used on segments; he recommended the representative contact the state broadband specialist Rebecca Dilge and the county's contracting agent Sean Milnes (Bragg) for ownership and connection rules. Commissioners also discussed the existence of dark fiber in county roads installed in the late 1990s and agreed to ask Bragg to help identify the owner and any available connection options.
