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Regular Agenda Item 4. E.

Regular BOS Meeting

Meeting Date:	10/15/2019
Submitted For:	Homero Vela	Submitted By:	Homero Vela, Assistant County Manager
Department:	Assistant County Manager

Information

Request/Subject

FY 2020 Arizona Rural Broadband Development Grant Application

Background Information

The Arizona Commerce Authority recently announced that grant funding will be made available through its Arizona Rural Broadband Development Grant. Grant applications must be submitted to the Arizona Commerce Authority by October 28, 2019. Gila County meets the criteria to apply for these grant funds.

The Arizona Rural Broadband Development Grant will be used to support planning and access for rural Arizona communities to broadband services. The $3 million funding request by Governor Doug Ducey was approved by the Arizona State Legislature for the fiscal year 2020 budget.

Evaluation

Gila County is going to apply for $50,000 of Arizona Rural Broadband Development Grant funds. The Board of Supervisors needs to authorize the submittal of this grant application to the Arizona Commerce Authority.

If a grant is awarded to Gila County, the Board will be requested to accept the grant at a future Board meeting.

If awarded, the Gila County Public Works Department will use the grant funds to conduct a countywide feasibility study to determine the necessity to and receptiveness of the public regarding the utilization of an improvement district to provide the following:

Reliable, affordable and redundant broadband network to the entire county
Fiber to individual homes and businesses
Open system for Internet Service Providers (ISP)

Internet Service Providers in Gila County do not currently have a redundant or reliable broadband network. As a result, any outages to the system could disrupt personal, business and government activity for unknown periods and hamper new business development and potentially put people’s lives in jeopardy.

Conclusion

The Arizona Rural Broadband Development Grant provides for a feasibility study to determine the need for a fiber-optic network for Gila County, which would improve connectivity for homes and businesses and strengthen economic growth.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Board authorize the submittal of a FY 2020 Arizona Rural Broadband Development Grant Application to the Arizona Commerce Authority in the amount of $50,000 to create a feasibility study of broadband for Gila County.

Suggested Motion

Information/Discussion/Action to approve the submittal of a FY 2020 Arizona Rural Broadband Development Grant Application to the Arizona Commerce Authority in the amount of $50,000 to create a feasibility study of broadband for Gila County. (Homero Vela)

Attachments
Arizona Rural Broadband Development Grant Announcement
RGA Grant Application
GC Cover Letter