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39 <br /> County who are underserved, including those with an interest in resolving the digital divide in <br /> Orange County. <br /> The Task Force's charge was to discuss broadband solutions that will improve the quality of <br /> high-speed internet services to Orange County residents and to recommend a plan to the Board <br /> of Orange County Commissioners to expand reliable high-speed internet services to all County <br /> residents and businesses. The work of the Task Force culminated in an incentive-based <br /> contract with North State Communications Advanced Services, LLC (now Lumos) to deploy <br /> broadband technology in rural Orange County. <br /> During spring 2024, Lumos began experiencing delays due to construction and budget issues, <br /> and much of the construction activity on the project slowed considerably. Lumos reported that <br /> those issues had an impact on the overall project schedule and drove the project well over <br /> budget. Lumos subsequently proposed to lower the number of addresses served from 6,370 to <br /> 5,852, completing 92% of the passings in the original contract. Consistent with reducing the <br /> number of passings, the amendment also lowered the total payment to Lumos from $10 million <br /> to $9.2 million. In response to the amendment, Commissioner Jean Hamilton petitioned that the <br /> Board reestablish the Broadband Task Force. <br /> Proposed Composition <br /> Later discussion on the amendment suggested that the same members of the Task Force be <br /> asked if they were willing to serve on a reconvened group. Resident appointees Patricia Hull <br /> and Terri Buckner expressed interest in serving on the reconvened Task Force. Other resident <br /> members have moved or did not respond, leaving three (3) Orange County Resident —At Large <br /> seats vacant. The table below represents the proposed composition of the 2025 Task Force. <br /> Representation 2021 Appointee 2025 Appointee <br /> County Manager(Designee) Travis Myren, Deputy County Travis Myren, County Manager <br /> Manager <br /> Orange County Chief Jim Northrup Robert Reynolds <br /> Information Officer <br /> Chapel Hill Carrboro City Doug NoeII, Director of IT Doug NoeII, Director of IT <br /> Schools Superintendent Operations Operations <br /> (Designee) <br /> Orange County Schools Dr. Monique Felder, <br /> Superintendent (Designee) Superintendent OCS Superintendent Designee <br /> Durham Technical Victoria P. Deaton, Compliance <br /> Community College Specialist Office of Institutional Awaiting response <br /> Representative Equity and Inclusion <br /> Board of Commissioners - 1 Sally Greene BOCC Appointment <br />