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7 <br /> <br />• The term of 3 years for the pilot, speaks to how long the vendor must be able to sustain <br />this project not how long it will take to get the infrastructure installed for customer <br />signups. <br />• Much of the infrastructure should be up and running within the first 12 months. <br />• If the initial pilot is successful, additional investments could be made prior to the end of <br />the 3 year term. <br />• There are about 5,000 addresses in the underserved areas of the county <br />• 2,700 of addresses are addressed in this contract <br />• The test sites on the map are to ensure 90% coverage. <br />• 90% of the areas covered in the contract will be able to sign up for 25 down and 3 up <br />broadband service <br />• The first customer will be signed up within 6 months of contract execution <br />• Other speed and pricing offerings will also be available <br /> <br />This is a public private partnership where both the County AND Open Broadband, LLC are <br />making infrastructure investments. Beyond the initial investment, Open Broadband will be <br />continuing to invest in maintaining and adding to the initial infrastructure investment in order to <br />guarantee the service levels defined in the contract. More importantly, Open Broadband may <br />even expand the service areas based on adoption rate and on the success of these pilots. <br /> <br />Commissioner Jacobs said the public has raised questions, and asked Jim Northrup if <br />his presentation addressed these questions. <br />Jim Northup said yes, he answered the questions that he has received. He said <br />concerns were raised over the dots not included in the red circles, and he said the largest <br />concentration of unserved dots is in the western part of the County, and this will be address in <br />phase 2. He said there is no tower, or tall structure, in this area at this time. He said it is hoped <br />that vertical assets can be identified, and he will be working with a vendor to solve this issue. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked if one will have to stop paying Century Link for DSL <br />services, and switch to this vendor once available. <br />Jim Northup said that would most likely be the case, and there will be a sign up page on <br />the vendor’s webpage. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said this is predicted to be 90% effective, and asked if there is a <br />way that one can know if one is part of the 10% that are not covered. <br />Jim Northup said it will be clear where the 10% is within the circle, and at that point, <br />perhaps the County could work with open broadband and make sure the public knows where <br />those areas are. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said one would be well advised to not drop one’s current provider <br />until one knows one can be serviced by broadband. <br />Jim Northup said yes, and as this service starts taking off then this would be an <br />alternative choice. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said it may be good to provide a disclaimer somewhere <br />referencing this point. He is unsure how one can know whether it works without trying it. <br />Jim Northup said one can have parallel providers. <br />Commissioner Price asked if clarification could be provided regarding who owns the <br />services/equipment. <br />John Roberts said the County will not own the equipment, but is the owner of the site <br />(e.g.: tower). <br />Commissioner Price asked if the County bows out of this process, once the services are <br />set up.