County wants to spend the last ARPA broadband fund

Oct. 25—MORGANTOWN — In a quarterly update to the Monongalia County Commission, Comcast Compliance Manager Dana Gossert explained that the design of a $17.8 million broadband expansion project is expected to be completed this year.

The project will bring broadband to 2,175 unserved and underserved homes and businesses in all parts of Monongalia County.

It is the result of a public-private partnership announced in June between the county and Comcast, under which the commission will provide $5.98 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars and the internet provider will raise the remaining $11,840,000 in an attempt to bring large parts of the province online.

“Comcast had conducted a complete strike of the project area over 175 miles. Measurements and other data obtained during the strike have been provided to our design engineers who have begun their assessment, analysis and design,” Gossert explained, noting that the analysis will determine where air and underground infrastructure is most appropriate.

As the design nears completion, Gossert said Comcast will begin filing permits, including right-of-way permits, municipal street opening permits, railroad, easement and pole attachment permits, as required.

Although the aim of the broadband project is to reach as many residents as possible over the next two years, it will not reach everyone.

To that end, the commission has issued a request for proposals for a second, smaller project that aims to fill the gaps, or, as Commission Chairman Sean Sikora described them, the donut holes.

“We recognize and hear from our citizens about all the little donut holes that are out there in the community, and we can see those holes and we know that some areas are not big enough to really warrant an ISP coming in and wanting to do that.” focus on those areas,” Sikora said. “Most ISPs focus on the big areas where they can get the most bang for their buck. As a company, I don’t deny that. This program was designed to find those gaps.”

The committee is using $1.25 million in ARPA funds for this purpose.

Because ARPA dollars are to be obligated by the end of the year, the committee is soliciting RFP responses by November 13 and plans to award the project on December 11.

The county’s broadband efforts date back to May 2021, when the commission hired Ohio-based Ice Miller for $250,657 to create a comprehensive countywide broadband plan.

During the planning process, the province provided approximately $380,000 more, split between Ice Miller and broadband consultant LIT Communities.

“When we got our ARPA dollars, our commitment was to spend half of it on broadband connectivity and the other half on economic development; and broadband is economic development,” Sikora said. “We have done that. As we receive responses and proposals for approval, we will have committed the last of these dollars and will take a huge step toward our goal.”