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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: March 7, 2019 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 6-a <br /> SUBJECT: Broadband Initiatives Update and Approval of Proposed Agreement with Open <br /> Broadband for Wireless Broadband Appurtenances on County Facilities <br /> DEPARTMENT: Information Technologies <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Service Area Map Jim Northrup, Chief Information Officer, <br /> Tower Antenna Agreement (Equipment 919-245-2276 <br /> Specifications Included) <br /> PURPOSE: To: <br /> 1) receive an update on the County's current broadband initiatives and a timeline of relevant <br /> events; and <br /> 2) approve and authorize the Manager to sign the attached agreement thereby allowing <br /> Open Broadband, LLC no cost access to County facilities for the purpose of appropriately <br /> attaching equipment in order to provide broadband services to rural Orange County <br /> residents. <br /> BACKGROUND: <br /> BROADBAND INITIATIVES UPDATE <br /> Since 2014, Orange County Information Technologies (IT) has been tasked with working toward <br /> improving broadband technology for Orange County residents. Many of the tasks below were <br /> accomplished through collaboration with residents, business partners, State and local <br /> representatives, government agencies, and towns. <br /> Orange County IT has been administering the Open Broadband contract with an eye toward <br /> first customer sign ups in April-May of 2019. Some of the key deliverables from now till then: <br /> o continue reviewing Open Broadband Project financials (County) <br /> o negotiating tower agreements (Hillsborough / Open Broadband) <br /> o negotiating tower agreements (Orange County / Open Broadband) <br /> o field verification of Open Broadband equipment purchases and configurations <br /> The largest current initiative currently underway is the $500,000 Broadband Initiative, whereby <br /> the County sought Request for Proposals (RFP) from Internet Service Providers (ISPs) on how <br /> to improve broadband in both unserved and underserved areas in Orange County. The <br /> Request for Proposals was released in January of 2018. The intent was to find a vendor that <br /> could improve broadband speed and services in the rural areas of the County. <br />