LBA supporters waited anxiously last Thursday for the release of Loudoun County Staff’s response to BMI#16. Working around busy schedules and trying to work within the 2-1/2 minute time given for speakers at the BoS Business Meetings, we analyzed the report and developed a statement that was delivered at the BoS meeting on 17 November.
Here is the transcript:
Good evening, my name is Kevin Noll. Tonight I speak on behalf of Loudoun Broadband Alliance, LBA for short, a group of Loudoun County citizens that have recently organized to speak as a unified voice for those that do not have access to reliable and affordable broadband Internet access.
LBA thanks the Board of Supervisors and county staff for the time and effort they have put in to BMI#16.
LBA is optimistic that a combination of staff’s proposals will move the status of rural broadband forward.
LBA does not have a position on staff’s recommendations related to issue # 1 and tower permitting.
LBA is in agreement with the recommendations for issues 2 and 3 and staff’s findings for issue 6.
Responding to issue 4, staff indicates the dark-fiber network to connect the last five county facilities will be critical to building a complete last-mile broadband offering. LBA supports staff’s recommendation to accelerate funding and construction of the network to connect the last five facilities.
In their response to item 5, staff reported that Segra has been contacted by multiple entities interested in developing last-mile solutions in rural Loudoun, and that the county is in receipt of at least one unsolicited proposal for construction of a universal coverage last-mile network.
LBA recommends that the Board of Supervisors direct staff and attorneys, and if necessary a consultant, to evaluate the proposal. If the proposal has merit, then it should be made available for public review so the affected citizens can weigh in with an informed opinion.
LBA believes that this approach and the process authorized by Virigina’s Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act would be the most expedient method to improving access to broadband in the county.
If the county and public reviews find that no proposal meets the needs of Loudoun County’s underserved communities, then an RFP process could be undertaken. At this time, though, the staff’s recommendation to go directly to an RFP will only serve to delay evaluation of the existing proposal and will cause the county to miss deadlines to apply for funding.
LBA looks forward to working with the Board of Supervisors and county staff on this important topic.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
It’s unfortunate that we are allocated only 2-1/2 minutes, because there is much more to be said than can fit in such a short block of time. Look for upcoming posts that address each of the topics in BMI#16 in more detail.