RE: Array HOA requests action on broadband Internet
Travis Myren
Mr. Williams,
I am checking on the status of service on Array Drive. I hope to have an answer today.
Travis Myren
County Manager
O: 919-245-2308 M: 608-345-1526
From: Kenneth Williams <ken.wil...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2025 7:03 PM
To: ALL_BOCC_MANAGER_CLERK <OCB...@orangecountync.gov>
Cc: Ryan Downey Downey <thebear...@gmail.com>; Pedro Gelabert <pg...@sbcglobal.net>; Robert Reynolds <rorey...@orangecountync.gov>; Andrew Stevenson <andrew.s...@lumosfiber.com>; Georgia Dabinett <dabs...@gmail.com>; Martha Williams <marti123...@gmail.com>;
James Corrin <jim.c...@nc.gov>; Jodi Bakst <jo...@realestateexperts.net>
Subject: Array HOA requests action on broadband Internet
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Dear Commissioners,
I am writing on behalf of the Array Homeowners Association (HOA) to ask your involvement in securing broadband Internet for our development. The developer, Jodi Bakst, and representatives of the HOA have been working with LUMOS (Andrew Stevenson) and various representatives of Orange County (Jim Northrup, Todd McGee, Robert Reynolds) since 2021, when the project was first initiated. From the beginning and at several points during the project, Mr. Stevenson confirmed that the Array Development would be included in the broadband project. In the spring of this year, LUMOS laid fiber optic cable along Orange Grove Road adjacent to the intersection of Array Drive. Thinking that broadband access for our development was imminent, I reached out to Mr. Stevenson on May 5. He informed me that at the time of the contract, the development had no assigned addresses and was only included in the original project under the stipulation of additional capital expenditures based on a redesign of the project. He stated that a meeting for redesign and additional capital expenditures was scheduled for the end of June. We have not received any information on the results of this meeting after submitting several requests for status.
I have documentation of all our contacts with Mr. Stevenson for the last two years, which occurred at least quarterly. I also communicated with Mr. Reynolds and shared with him all our documentation. I will gladly share this documentation with you if it would be useful. I also communicated with Mr. Stevenson a cost benefit analysis which indicated the number of currently occupied homes and projected homes. Currently, five homes are occupied, four of which have members that work remotely and require consistent, high-speed Internet. Two more homes will be occupied within the next month. Two additional homes will be occupied in spring of 2026. We estimate the cost of laying fiber optic and connecting our homes to be less than $5000.Therefore, the cost of laying fiber optic cable and connecting our homes will be recovered within three months. Since Array Drive is a private road, the HOA established a utility easement with LUMOS, which was recorded with the county a year ago. Within the last two weeks, I have talked with the LUMOS construction manager who states that the only thing necessary is for the LUMOS finance office to approve the expenditure. Last week, I talked with Jim Corrin of the NC Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment office, who informed me that Internet service providers could apply for a grant for funding to install broadband.
My argument and point is this: throughout the project, we have communicated clearly our needs for broadband and have been repeatedly told that we would be included in the project. We would greatly appreciate your involvement in securing broadband Internet for the 12 families of our development.
Thank you for your help.
Sincerely,
Ken Williams
President, Array HOA
Ken Williams
479-366-8598
ken.wil...@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-r-williams-phd-18b87939/?msgConversationId=6501277655306956800&msgOverlay=true
Bluesky: @dr-ethics.bsky.social
Substack: @kenwilliamsphd
Travis Myren
The County’s CIO is waiting on a reply from Lumos. As soon as I see something, I will send it your way.
Travis
From: Kenneth Williams <ken.wil...@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2025 2:43 PM
To: Travis Myren <tmy...@orangecountync.gov>
Cc: ALL_BOCC_MANAGER_CLERK <OCB...@orangecountync.gov>; Ryan Downey Downey <thebear...@gmail.com>; Pedro Gelabert <pg...@sbcglobal.net>; Robert Reynolds <rorey...@orangecountync.gov>; Andrew Stevenson <andrew.s...@lumosfiber.com>; Georgia
Dabinett <dabs...@gmail.com>; Martha Williams <marti123...@gmail.com>; James Corrin <jim.c...@nc.gov>; Jodi Bakst <jo...@realestateexperts.net>
Subject: Re: Array HOA requests action on broadband Internet
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.
Thank you for checking into this, Travis. Have you been able to obtain any information yet?
