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Resident criticizes River Street broadband rollout; county staff says grant funds are not eligible for Starlink
Summary
A resident urged the board to scrutinize River Street's FTTH contract and VADi grant after minimal construction notice; he said Starlink is now a viable alternative. County staff replied that the broadband grant program being used is not eligible for satellite service funding.
During public comment, resident Martin Conkle criticized the River Street broadband contract and said the company's lack of documented construction notice and slow timelines may amount to breach. Conkle urged the board to review contract terms and the VADi grant tied to the project and observed that "you can get the satellite for $80 and the service for $80 a month." He argued the county should double-check whether River Street has satisfied notice and milestone obligations under its agreements.
A county staff member responded that the grant program being used for the broadband project is not eligible for Starlink-type satellite funding, noting that other communities had tried to use similar funding for satellite deployments and were told it was ineligible. The staff comment undercut the resident's suggestion that Starlink could be substituted using the same grant funds.
The board did not take formal action at the meeting but acknowledged the public concern and said staff would look further into the grant documents and contract language.
