Commissioners discuss federal broadband funding changes and a proposed statewide support letter; no action taken
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Summary
County officials reviewed a federal shift toward trunk fiber and fixed wireless approaches that may reduce direct fiber-to-every-premise builds; the board declined to sign a statewide support letter at this time and requested the clerk circulate the correspondence.
County officials updated the board on a federal/state broadband policy change that would shift funding away from connecting every premise with fiber toward a mix of trunk fiber and fixed wireless connections.
A presenter said the federal program planned to withdraw some broadband funds and favor trunk routes and fixed wireless because the cost of extending fiber to widely dispersed rural premises can be prohibitively high. The presenter described examples where extending fiber from the last distribution point to a home could cost $75,000 or more.
The county participant said the state broadband office proposes a model of trunk cables along main roads combined with fixed wireless to reach nearby premises; that approach would reduce the need for long spur fiber builds. The presenter said some counties and states (Wyoming cited) are using shorter towers and fixed wireless where practical.
The person who brought the correspondence asked whether the board wanted to sign a statewide letter expressing support or objection. Commissioners asked the clerk to circulate the letter to the board for review; no vote or formal action was taken at the meeting.
The board's informal view as reported to the meeting was supportive of cost-saving trunk-and-wireless approaches, and staff were asked to route the letter to the clerk for distribution so commissioners could review it outside the meeting.