Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
1 <br />2 <br />3 <br />4 <br />5 <br />6 <br />7 <br />8 <br />9 <br />10 <br />11 <br />12 <br />13 <br />14 <br />15 <br />16 <br />17 <br />18 <br />19 <br />20 <br />21 <br />22 <br />23 <br />24 <br />25 <br />26 <br />27 <br />28 <br />29 <br />30 <br />31 <br />32 <br />33 <br />34 <br />35 <br />36 <br />37 <br />38 <br />39 <br />40 <br />41 <br />42 <br />43 <br />44 <br />45 <br />46 <br />47 <br />48 <br />49 <br />N <br />organization and, after making introductions, checking back in to ensure that all parties <br />are communicating effectively. <br />Broadband Timeline of Relevant Events <br />• June 2017 — $500k for broadband incentives approved in County budget <br />• Late 2016 — County works with Representative Craig Meyer to set meeting with <br />CenturyLink. This meeting paved the way for CenturyLink to provide budgetary numbers <br />for improving broadband in its service area and those numbers were used as a base <br />number for the FY 2017 -18 $500,000 Broadband Incentive. <br />• September - December 2016 — IT met with Federal Engineering and Emergency <br />Services to discuss the positive impact proposed telecommunications towers may have <br />on broadband services in rural Orange County. It was requested at that meeting that <br />approximately 15' of vertical strata be reserved for placement of 3rd party wireless <br />broadband equipment on any new towers to be constructed by Orange County. <br />Discussions also included how both the County's telecommunication and fiber plans <br />have synergies that may decrease long range costs and offer a more secure and <br />reliable fiber connection to each proposed tower location. <br />• July 2016 — Former Governor Pat McCrory released the NC broadband strategy report. <br />No funding identified within this report for broadband improvements. <br />• May 2016 — The County's public network buildout was completed in downtown <br />Hillsborough and all County- occupied buildings. <br />• March 2016 — WiFi -to -Go pilot began via collaboration by IT and the County Library. <br />• March 2016 — The State assisted Orange County with identifying vertical assets - <br />understanding the location and availability of county -wide vertical assets is important to <br />businesses that want to bring wireless internet services into Orange County. <br />• December 2015 — An ISP meeting on State /County collaboration occurred. <br />• Late 2015 — The Orange Public + Education Network (OPEN) formed to foster <br />collaboration and cost - sharing among Orange County and its municipalities. <br />• August 2015 — The County's Broadband Survey closed. <br />• June 2015 — The County's Broadband Survey was released. <br />• Apr. 2015 — The Broadband Initiative resident group was formed. <br />• November 2014 — The Manager directed County staff to make a concerted effort to <br />engage residents in broadband discussions. <br />• June 2014 — January 2016 — Orange County leveraged its relationship with Time <br />Warner resulting in Time Warner extending its wireless hotspots network throughout <br />downtown Hillsborough and into Fairview and Cedar Grove Parks. Prior to the County's <br />contact, Time Warner reported it was only going to deliver hotspot services to Durham <br />and Chapel Hill. This service allows any individual to connect wirelessly throughout <br />downtown Hillsborough and the parks for free. <br />• 2011 — North Carolina House Bill 129 barred governments from using public funds to <br />become Internet Service Providers. <br />• 2010 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) publishes its National <br />Broadband Plan. <br />• 2010 — MCNC awarded federal funds for middle -mile network in rural NC. <br />• 2009 — The US Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus bill included a provision to <br />make loans to states for the purpose of broadband. <br />Broadband Initiatives & Event Timeline <br />Item 7 -b <br />