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26 <br /> 1 In recognition of this need, the Board of Commissioners created a Broadband Task Force in <br /> 2 November of 2020. The Task Force was charged with discussing broadband solutions that will <br /> 3 improve the quality of high-speed internet services to Orange County residents and to <br /> 4 recommend a plan to the Board of Orange County Commissioners that will expand reliable high <br /> 5 speed internet services to all county residents and businesses. The Task Force is co-chaired <br /> 6 by Commissioners Sally Greene and Earl McKee and includes representation from the County <br /> 7 Manager's Office, both School Districts, Durham Technical Community College, and five at- <br /> 8 large community members. <br /> 9 <br /> 10 <br /> Broadband Task Force Members <br /> Doug Noell Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schls. Super. (Designee) <br /> Earl McKee Board of Commissioners- 1 <br /> Erica Bryant County Manager(Designee) <br /> Patricia Hull Orange County Resident-At-Large <br /> Paul Cardillo Orange County Resident-At-Large <br /> Ryan Miller Orange County Schls. Super. (Designee) <br /> Sally Greene Board of Commissioners- 2 <br /> Terri Buckner Orange County Resident-At-Large <br /> Todd Broucksou Orange County Resident-At-Large <br /> Vasu Kilaru Orange County Resident-At-Large <br /> Victoria Deaton Durham Technical Community College Repr. <br /> 11 <br /> 12 The American Rescue Plan Act also recognized the necessity of high-speed internet <br /> 13 connections throughout the nation and specifically named broadband expansion as one of the <br /> 14 eligible uses for funds distributed to local governments through this program. The Board of <br /> 15 Commissioners originally reserved $5 million of the County's $28.8 million direct allocation from <br /> 16 the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to fund a broadband infrastructure design and <br /> 17 implementation program. <br /> 18 <br /> 19 The Broadband Task Force reviewed different models to deploy broadband technology and <br /> 20 chose to seek alternatives that delivered upload and download speeds of at least 100 mbps, <br /> 21 consistent with the terms of the American Rescue Act Plan. The Task Force designed a <br /> 22 request for proposal (RFP) to seek providers that could meet that standard and serve the <br /> 23 County's unserved and underserved homes. The Task Force also created a detailed scoring <br /> 24 matrix and appointed a member to serve on the evaluation and contract negotiation team. The <br /> 25 RFP was issued on September 13, 2021, with one amendment added on October 11, 2021. <br /> 26 <br /> 27 In November 2021 the NC General Assembly expanded County authority to provide grants for <br /> 28 the purpose of accelerating broadband service in unserved areas. As part of the Appropriations <br /> 29 Act (SL 2021-180), state and federal grant funds were now allowed to be used under this <br /> 30 authority (as opposed to only unrestricted general funds previously) and the potential providers <br /> 31 expanded except by limiting any location where a private provider has been designated to <br /> 32 receive funds through State or federally funded programs designed specifically for broadband <br /> 33 service deployment (i.e. the G.R.E.A.T. grant fund). <br /> 34 <br /> 35 The County received four proposals from internet service providers in response to the RFP. <br /> 36 The evaluation team scored the proposals and began contract negotiations with North State <br /> 37 Communications Advanced Services, LLC. The information below summarizes the major <br /> 38 provisions contained in the attached contract. <br />