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Presently, American Tower is requesting an 'exclusive right to develop' agreement for <br />tower facilities on County lands. However, this would be time limited and American Tower <br />would have the first right to develop and if not, then other agencies may proceed. <br />American Tower is a builder of vertical real estate (the tower) upon which broadband <br />service providers attach broadcasting equipment. One or more service providers would be <br />part of the grant /loan application that the BOCC would review and approve, if awarded. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: American Tower, Inc. will work with the County to complete any <br />and all applications for federal broadband service grant and loan programs without charge. <br />Depending on specific funding opportunities from the American Recovery and <br />Reinvestment Act (ARRA) or from private market investment thresholds, specific location <br />contracts will be brought forward to the BOCC and/or parameters of such contracts will be <br />agreed to. <br />RECOMMENDATIONS: The Manager recommends the Board: <br />1. Accept the American Tower, Inc. response for free consulting resources for ARRA <br />grant/loan applications, <br />2. Direct staff to begin negotiations with American Tower, Inc. to prepare a <br />memorandum of understanding regarding the completion of a grant or loan <br />application to fund new broadband service within the rural underserved and un- <br />served portions of the County, and <br />3. Analyze other areas of the County for inclusion into Master Telecommunications <br />Plan and bring forward in February 2010. <br />