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Commissioners sign letter supporting Mainstream Fiber's BEAD application
Summary
Mainstream Fiber asked Jay County for a letter of support worth five BEAD application points; commissioners unanimously approved and signed the letter. Company expects a $10 million project and anticipates $2–3 million from BEAD.
Shawn Gardner, representing Mainstream Fiber, requested a county letter of support to strengthen the company's BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) application. Gardner said a letter of support would be worth five points in the application process and argued that without local backing "they would be dead in the water." Autumn Marshall, ECI Regional Planning District broadband coordinator, supported the company and said Mainstream prioritizes rural Indiana needs.
Gardner described the project as roughly a $10 million proposal and said Mainstream expects to request $2–3 million from BEAD; he said the BEAD program is large and "they are estimated to grant $848 million between four different BEAD allotments." Commissioners voted unanimously to sign a county letter of support; the record notes the support does not obligate the county financially.
Broadband coordination staff also said combining BEAD work with the countywide emergency radio project may be possible but will require plan adjustments and address lists from the Indiana Broadband Office. Commissioners asked staff to help coordinate estimates and timelines for any combined work.
