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26 <br /> BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for households in Orange <br /> County to have access to broadband internet, which is defined as twenty-five megabits per <br /> second (mbps) download speed and 3 mbps upload speed Broadband has become a necessity <br /> to fully participate in educational instruction, commerce, and civic life. This need is particularly <br /> acute in the rural parts of Orange County where low density impedes the ability of internet <br /> service providers to recover the cost of a significant capital investment. <br /> In recognition of this need, the Board of Commissioners created a Broadband Task Force in <br /> November of 2020. The Task Force was charged with discussing broadband solutions that will <br /> improve the quality of high-speed internet services to Orange County residents and to <br /> recommend a plan to the Board of Orange County Commissioners that will expand reliable high <br /> speed internet services to all county residents and businesses. The Task Force is co-chaired <br /> by Commissioners Sally Greene and Earl McKee and includes representation from the County <br /> Manager's Office, both School Districts, Durham Technical Community College, and five at- <br /> large community members. <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 /> The American Rescue Plan Act also recognized the necessity of high-speed internet <br /> connections throughout the nation and specifically named broadband expansion as one of the <br /> eligible uses for funds distributed to local governments through this program. The Board of <br /> Commissioners originally reserved $5 million of the County's $28.8 million direct allocation from <br /> the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to fund a broadband infrastructure design and <br /> implementation program. <br /> The Broadband Task Force reviewed different models to deploy broadband technology and <br /> chose to seek alternatives that delivered upload and download speeds of at least 100 mbps, <br /> consistent with the terms of the American Rescue Act Plan. The Task Force designed a <br /> request for proposal (RFP) to seek providers that could meet that standard and serve the <br /> County's unserved and underserved homes. The Task Force also created a detailed scoring <br /> matrix and appointed a member to serve on the evaluation and contract negotiation team. The <br /> RFP was issued on September 13, 2021, with one amendment added on October 11, 2021. <br /> In November 2021 the NC General Assembly expanded County authority to provide grants for <br /> the purpose of accelerating broadband service in unserved areas. As part of the Appropriations <br /> Act (SL 2021-180), state and federal grant funds were now allowed to be used under this <br /> authority (as opposed to only unrestricted general funds previously) and the potential providers <br />