fiber optic contract

[deb stanford]

I live in SW Orange County where fiber optic broadband was promised to
be available on my road over a year ago. I understand that the county
is considering letting T-Mobile out of the contract (previously held
by Lumos and No. State). Initially it was unfair to allow the project
to be started in Fox Hill Farms developments north of Hillsborough
where internet access was already high speed while the more rural
areas of the county struggled to get any consistent internet access.
Many of us in these rural areas still struggle and now may be ignored
again. Consistent internet access has become as essential as
consistent electricity access.
Please do not let any part of the contract be breached. All of us in
the county deserve the same access to fiber optic broadband.
Thank you.
Debbie Stanford
Gold Mine Rd.
CH

[Jamezetta Bedford]

Ms Stanford,

On behalf of the Board, thank you for sharing your comments and concerns regarding internet access and the proposed amendment to the grant contract with Lumos. The Board will consider an amendment tonight during our meeting at 7 pm at Southern Human Services on Homestead Road. Here's the link to the agenda:  http://server3.co.orange.nc.us:8088/WebLink/Browse.aspx?dbid=0&startid=76599&row=1&cr=1   

Total contract:  $40 Million - $30 M investment by Northstate/Lumos and $10M from Orange County ARPA federal funds.

  OC would pay Lumos $1M to start, $3M more after 3,000 passes completed and the remaining $6M after the total 6,370 passes are completed.

Only unserved or underserved houses could be covered legally using these ARPA funds. Many have inadequate internet, but still do not qualify under these terms for ARPA funded coverage. Other providers sat with staff and went through the addresses one by one on this issue. 

In 2024 difficulties slowed progress and this summer Lumos reported that they have spent over $20M more than agreed upon ($50M+) and need to reduce the number served. To-date, 5,187 passes completed (81.4%) and $4M ARPA funds paid to Lumos. 

The contract is not in breach yet. The remedy if the 6,370 passes are not done is that Lumos does not get paid the remaining $6M. That's how an incentives/grant type contract works. 

And, the ARPA rules mean the only other use would be for very similar fiber installation, but 1) there is no time for a different rfp; 2) there is no other government doing this type of project for OC to transfer the funds so 3) if unused, the funds revert to the federal government. 

The final deadline is 12/31/26 to fully expend the remaining $6M. 

The amendment proposes that another 665 passes be constructed, a reduction of 518.  The revised payout schedule is: 

199 new passes and OC pays $2.6M (recognizing the large increase from 3,000 to 5,187 completed since the last payment).

111 more new passes and OC pays $1.3M.

final 355 new passes and OC pays $1.3M.

That sums to 665 new passes and $5.2M.  The total achieved would be 92% of the original goal and 92% of the $10M would be paid out. $800,000 would revert to the federal government.  If they can do more passes then more $ could be paid out.

Yes, there are risks that from 1 to 665 passes will not be completed. There is also no other remedy. 

The county will continue to apply for new programs like BEAD and others. The 518 addresses now cut and those that were in the "doughnut" areas are certainly disappointed and many are angry. I've attached a list of the 665 addresses to be covered in the amendment. 

Sincerely,

Jamezetta Bedford, Chair

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From: deb stanford <debbis...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2025 3:21 PM
To: ALL_BOCC_MANAGER_CLERK <OCB...@orangecountync.gov>
Subject: fiber optic contract

 

CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless verified. Report suspicious emails with the Phish Alert Button located on your Outlook menu bar on the Home tab.

[Jamezetta Bedford]

I appreciate the history. Over here in SE Chapel Hill AT&T stopped serving our landline phone copper lines about 7 years ago as well.  Counties/providers need more funding investment to keep doing the installation work. The big firms are not otherwise financially motivated to do this. I am not an engineer, but hear from fire chiefs and EMS that the rolling hills are also a barrier to strong transmissions. I don't know if that is accurate? We will continue to look for grants and funds. When  new funds become available, we can consider whether we go for "getting the most passes" to "where is the greatest unmet need" and balance that out. I hope I am interpreting your input accurately. 

And, we can hope that are fewer restrictions on future funds. 

Jamezetta

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From: e.dan...@gmail.com <e.dan...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2025 10:28 AM
To: ALL_BOCC_MANAGER_CLERK <OCB...@orangecountync.gov>; Jamezetta Bedford <jbed...@orangecountync.gov>
Cc: morrow-mill-...@googlegroups.com <morrow-mill-...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Fwd: fiber optic contract

 

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Jamezetta,

Thank you for your explanation of the situation. 

I would like to express I do feel the same sense Ms. Stanford comments below expressed in some sense of inequity in 
the project proceeding in areas while the more rural areas of the county are struggling to get any consistent internet access.

Frankly internet access in area from White Cross down to and extending into Morrow Mill Road has deteriorated to the point of being appalling. 

A little history.....

ATT DSL via wireline telephone service was the first internet service available in this area and, for a period of time did provide some reasonable internet coverage in this under served area. 

But over recent years that service is failing and largely being abandoned. I was served by ATT DSL internet for a number of years, but as underground and other wiring deteriorated, ATT finally stated they would no longer repair it. ATT has stated their position in writing to abandon wireline services and it is evident they have. 

As I ride through the area as retired telecommunications engineer, the evidence of abandonment is plainly visible in the number of damaged, open wireline connect pedestals, un-maintained overhead wireline cables hit by trees back in July by Tropical Storm Chantal,(e.g. on White Cross Road), with lines pulled down and still not repaired.

Cell towers in this region are spaced far apart compared to other areas, leaving spotty cellular coverage unless close by a tower.

Again I am left a sense of an inequity felt by many in this portion of Orange County of being overlooked and under served.

Thank you for any and all effort you can extend to remedy the situation.

Dan Eddleman
NC 54 West near Orange Grove Road 

On 9/16/2025 7:08 AM, deb stanford wrote: