Minutes 06-28-2021 Virtual Business meeting

Browse Search

6 Commissioner Fowler asked if the County pursued the Time Warner method, who would own the ISP. Jim Northrup said that is to be decided. Bonnie Hammersley said the question of who will own the fiber is part of tonight's discussion, in order to move forward with the RFP. Commissioner McKee said that question would be discussed during the closed session. Commissioner Greene said the RFP is not an award of a contract, but rather is an invitation to negotiate, and it will depend on how much the vendor wants to put into it. She said there are a lot of unknowns, but this is a good start. Commissioner Hamilton asked if there would be a cost to the homeowner. Jim Northrup said it would be the same market price to homeowners in urban and rural areas. He said there will be no surcharge for rural customers. Commissioner Hamilton said there are limits to service in rural areas because homeowners do not sign up due to the cost or larger elderly populations. She said she wants to get an idea of the full picture for the project. Commissioner Dorosin asked if clarification on the RFP process could be provided. Commissioner Greene said the RFP is to ask if vendors are interested or not; if they are interested in cost sharing. She said it is not an either/or thing. She said the County will share its need, and see who is interested in partnering, and how they would like to see it done. Commissioner McKee said aspects of state law limit the County. He said the County cannot own it in the way OWASA operates. He said the task force needs to find out what providers will be interested in doing, and at what cost. He said there may be no interest at all, which is equally pertinent information. Commissioner Dorosin asked if the County is asking vendors to pay for specific things. He said if the County were to build and pay for the infrastructure would it not be wise to invite all providers to come in and create some competition. He said he does not want proposals for a monopoly. Commissioner McKee agreed, and said he hoped he had not given that impression. Commissioner Dorosin said Commissioner McKee had not, and it seemed very open- ended. He said he would also not be in favor of giving away the infrastructure, as it excludes others. He said this is not really a RFP, but rather an invitation to collaborate. Commissioner McKee said one of the reasons of having a provider meeting is to find out what they want, and what they want from the County. He said despite having multiple task force meetings, he still does not know all of the questions or parameters to put on. He said State law may not allow the County to put limits on the costs to homeowners. He said despite all the unknowns, the County has to move forward with getting service to homeowners. Commissioner Greene asked about the RDOF Funds that Spectrum received, and asked if there is a realistic timeframe for Spectrum to start work. Catharine Rice said the FCC is going to determine who gets the funds next year. She said Spectrum is only getting $1.33 per home, per month, for 10 years, which is not a lot of subsidy. She said Spectrum is probably not feeling much incentive to build in Orange County. She said Spectrum has to build out 40% in the first three years, and the whole state in 6 years. She said there will be penalties if this is not completed, but the timeline is not definite. Commissioner Dorosin left the meeting at 7:44 p.m. and returned at 7:45 p.m. Commissioner Greene asked if this will impact any other potential Orange County partners. She asked if Orange County has to stay out of Spectrum's way. Catharine Rice said competition is the best market force to drive costs down, improve customer service, and improve the quality of innovation. She said this is the best chance for