$10-million rural Madison County internet initiative in bid review
Posted Wednesday, March 23, 2022 6:14 pm (by the Madison County Journal)
Madison County supervisors are one step closer to proceeding with a multi-million-dollar endeavor to bring broadband internet to the rural northern part of the county.
On Monday, Board President Paul Griffin, who has long said his District 5 needs high-speed internet, created a selection committee to review four bids submitted by broadband carriers.
Griffin, along with District 3 Supervisor Gerald Steen, County Administrator Shelton Vance, Board Attorney Mike Espy, and Darion Warren of Waggoner Engineering were chosen for the selection committee.
Griffin asked the committee to act fast and move forward with a recommendation to award a bid by the next board meeting in April.
The four bids were not included in the agenda items and were unknown as of press time. The Board of Supervisors voted to take them under advisement on Monday.
Warren told supervisors that the next step is to verify the proposals submitted match the submission guidelines and technical criteria set forth in the initial RFP (request for proposal).
Earlier this year supervisors voted to allocate $10 million of the $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds received as part of federal COVID monies towards rural broadband internet that would serve 2,900 total households.
A study conducted by the supervisors shows that conservatively if 51 percent of the total 2,943 potential residential subscribers subscribe to broadband, there would be approximately 1,501 subscribers benefitting from the investment.
The total investment is estimated to be over $35 million. The county has requested a match from the state for another $10 million.
Supervisors on Monday also authorized Waggoner Engineering to apply for a ReConnect Grant through the US. Department of Agriculture.
In addition to the broadband, supervisors voted to allocate $2.5 million for sewer upgrades, while asking the state for a matching $2.5 million. They allocated $2.5 for watershed upgrades, with a $2.5 million state match. And $5 million was allocated for Bozeman Road, with a $15 million state match.
The state Legislature has not decided yet which projects throughout the state they are matching.
Original source can be found here.
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