AGENDA DATE: 7/15/2020
TITLE: Albemarle Broadband Authority Quarterly Report
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Albemarle Broadband Authority Quarterly Report
ITEM TYPE: Consent Information Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Henry, Culp, Fritz
PRESENTER (S): Mike Culp, Bucky Walsh
LEGAL REVIEW: Not Required
REVIEWED BY: Jeffery Richardson
BACKGROUND: The Albemarle Broadband Authority (ABBA) was incorporated on August 21, 2017. This report is being provided as information on ABBA's work April through June 2020.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Infrastructure Investment: Prioritize, plan and invest in critical infrastructure that responds to past and future changes and improves the capacity to serve community needs. Educational Opportunities: Provide lifelong learning opportunities for all our citizens. Quality Government Operations: Ensure County government's ability to provide high quality service that achieves community priorities.
DISCUSSION: ABBA has held five public meetings in 2020. The ABBA agendas and meeting minutes are posted for public review on the County's website.
Beginning in April and through June 2020, ABBA partnered with the County of Albemarle Purchasing Office to post a Request for Proposals for Broadband Expansion. A pre-bid proposal conference was conducted virtually and included fourteen participants representing nine private companies. Proposals were due June 30, 2020. As of submittal of this report, ABBA is expecting to have ranked the received proposals and is preparing for negotiations.
ABBA is managing two Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) Grant Funded Projects. The VATI 2019 project with CVEC/FireFly Fiber Broadband offered service to approximately 325 locations in Albemarle County and is in process of close-out activities. The VATI 2020 project with CenturyLink will offer fiber broadband service options (1gigabit speeds) to 837 locations in the County. CenturyLink and ABBA hosted four teleconferences to answer questions a...
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