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Home My WebLink AboutBroadband and Telecommunications Advisory Committee - Agenda - 9/10/2024 Bayfield County Administrator 117 E 5th Street, PO Box 878, Washburn, WI 54891 Ph: 715-373-6181 Fx: 715-373-6153 www.Bayfieldcounty.wi.gov Mark Abeles-Allison, County Administrator Kristine Kavajecz, Human Resources Director Kim Mattson, Finance Director Gail Reha, Bookkeeper Paige Terry, Clerk III BAYFIELD COUNTY BROADBAND AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING COMMITTEE MEMBERS Jessica Waclawski Mike Cariveau Josh Pearson Steve Sandstrom, Chair James Paterson Chad Young Kenneth Vlasek, Vice-Chair Shawna Barnes Mary Dougherty Zach Larson Nicole Boyd Dear Committee Members: This letter is written to inform you of the Bayfield County Broadband and Telecommunications Advisory Committee Meeting scheduled for 4:00pm Tuesday, September 10, 2024 in the Bayfield County Board Room. This meeting will be held in-person and remotely. Supervisors and the public will be able to participate in the Meeting in person or via voice either by using the internet link or phone number below. ______________________________________________________________________________ Microsoft Teams Need help? Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 251 058 201 907 Passcode: v9KZLq Dial in by phone +1 715-318-2087,,367434073# United States, Eau Claire Find a local number Phone conference ID: 367 434 073# For organizers: Meeting options | Reset dial-in PIN ________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Contact Bayfield County at 715-373-6181 if you have access questions or email Mark.Abeles-Allison@bayfieldcounty.wi.gov if during the meeting. Any person wishing to attend who, because of a disability, requires special accommodation, should contact the County Clerk’s office at 715-373-6100, at least 24 hours before the scheduled meeting time, so appropriate arrangements can be made. Notice is hereby given that in the event the standing committee does not have a quorum the County Board Chair or Vice Chair may act as an ex officio member (County ordinance, Chapter 3, section 2- 3-1 (c)). Notice is hereby given that a majority of the Bayfield County Board may be present at the meeting to gather information about a subject over which they have decision-making responsibility. This constitutes a meeting of the Bayfield County Board pursuant to State ex rel. Badke v. Greendale Village Bd., 173 Wis. 2d 553, 494 N.W.2d 408(1993), and must be noticed as such, although the County Board will not take any formal action at this meeting. 1) Call to Order 2) Discussion and Possible Action, Minutes from August 13, 2024 3) Introductions 4) Mark Leonard, Wisconsin PSC, Update 5) Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Committee Purpose, Goals and Objectives, Kellie Pederson, Facilitator 6) Mitch Olson, BugTussel Development Officer Program Review in Surrounding Counties 7) Bayfield Wireless and Norvado Program Review 8) Resources: a) Wisconsin State Digital Equity Plan: https://psc.wi.gov/Documents/broadband/WisconsinDigitalEquityPlanApproved.pdf b) Community Broadband Planning Playbook, North Carolina: https://www.ncbroadband.gov/technical-assistance/playbook c) Other State Resources: https://psc.wi.gov/Pages/ServiceType/Broadband/CommunityPlanning.aspx 9) Committee Member Reports 10) Next Meeting Date: Tuesday, October 8, 4:00 PM 11) Adjourn 1 Minutes of the Bayfield County Broadband and Telecommunications Advisory Committee Meeting 4:00pm, August 13, 2024 Meeting was held Remotely through Microsoft Teams and in person in the Bayfield County Board Room, Washburn, WI Members Present: Ken Vlasek, Josh Pearson, Mary Dougherty, Mike Cariveau, Steve Sandstrom, Leo Carlson (on behalf of Chad Young), Nicole Boyd, Jamie Patterson, Zach Larson, Shawna Barnes Members Excused: Jessica Waclawski Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Evan xxx-Red Cliff Tribal IT Director, Mark Leonard-Wisconsin Public Service Commission Broadband Planning and Policy Coordinator Call to Order and Introductions: Called to order at 4:00p.m. by Mary Dougherty. Introductions of committee members and attendees were made. Review Authorizing Resolution Stating Purpose of Committee: The authorizing resolution was included in the packet. The committee reviewed the following mission statement: “The Bayfield County Broadband/Telecommunications Committee serves as a community connector and facilitator working with citizens, businesses, industries, agriculture, units of government, and broadband and telecommunications providers aiding broadband/telecommunications expansion initiatives to increase the availability, delivery, and utilization of broadband and telecommunications services countywide. The Committee will also ensure that any public or private infrastructure required to provide broadband or telecommunications services is compatible with the County’s Comprehensive Plan and the Zoning Code.” Question was raised why the committee would need a mission statement on top of the authorizing resolution. Dougherty stated the mission statement would be another tool solidifying the mission and purpose of the committee. Concern was raised regarding the committee’s ability to ensure any services are compatible with the County’s Comprehensive Plan and the Zoning Code. Dougherty suggested that the sentence be revised to read: “The Committee will make recommendations to ensure that any public or private infrastructure required to provide broadband or telecommunications services is compatible with the County’s Comprehensive Plan and the Zoning Code.” The committee agreed and recommended that the mission statement be added to the next agenda for approval. Selection of Chair and Vice-Chair: 2 Patterson nominated Sandstrom as Chair. Dougherty asked for other nominations and none were made. Boyd moved to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for Sandstrom as Chair, seconded by Dougherty. Motion carried. Sandstrom took over the meeting as Chair. Vlasek volunteered himself as Vice-Chair. Sandstrom asked for other nominations and none were made. Committee unanimously voted for Vlasek as Vice-Chair. Mark Leonard, Broadband Planning and Policy Coordinator, Wisconsin Public Service Commission: Mark Leonard was unable to attend the meeting. Carlson gave an overview of the BEAD Program to the committee. Carlson stated that the program has $1 billion available in Wisconsin to provide broadband to unserved and underserved locations. Volume 2 for the BEAD Program just came out with applications for this round due by November 1, 2024. Project areas for this next round have yet to be defined. Norvado has estimated 150 BEAD eligible locations within the county. Providers will be very busy over the next few months with the focus being primarily on fiber to the premises with alternative plans focusing on fixed wireless or satellites as other options. Cariveau informed the committee that several projects that have taken place over the past five years are not yet counted by the FCC. With the 150 eligible locations being spread so far throughout the county, the likelihood of the projects being supported by BEAD are not likely, so providers continue to build outside of the grant’s restrictions. Service providers will need to park large amounts of capital on the sideline to allow them to qualify for BEAD funds. Alternatively, providers may need to use other funds to reach these locations. Sandstrom asked what role the committee would play in the BEAD Program. Cariveau explained that the county will have influence over which projects and providers will best serve the county. Carlson stated that project support will require a resolution of support adopted by the County Board. Dougherty explained the process for getting a resolution of support for a project adopted by the County Board. Discussion took place regarding the number of other providers throughout the county and the lack of knowledge regarding their plans for the county. A recommendation was made that time be allocated at each meeting that would allow providers in the area answer questions regarding service provided throughout the county. Vlasek suggested that someone reach out to the other providers to inquire about any ongoing projects and plans they may have throughout the county. Broadband Background Materials for Bayfield County: Abeles-Allison reviewed the background materials that were included in the packet. Focus Areas and Plans and Goals for 2024 Meetings Including Guest Presenters and Invitations: The following suggestions were made for focus areas, plans, and goals of the committee for 2024: • Cellular/Mobile Communication Blind Spots 3 • Ordinance Development to Better Communicate Rules and Protect Residents for Tower Development/Installation • Expanding Service Coverage on State Highway 13 • Proactive Ways to Identify Cellular Towers in Advance • Develop Unbiased Connectivity Maps through a Third Party o Look for Funding to Develop such Maps • Gather Information Regarding Service Gaps and Opportunities • Make Recommendations on Problems and Potential Solutions Being Incorporated in the Comprehensive Plan • Focus on Planning and Structure • Facilitated Discussion Regarding Focus Areas and Plans and Goals for 2024 Meetings Including Guest Presenters and Invitations Report to County Executive Committee: Dougherty explained that she and Sandstrom will be briefing the Executive Committee on discussions had during the committee meetings. Resources Committee Member Reports: There were no reports. Next Meeting Date: • September 10, 2024 at 4:00 PM • October 8, 2024 at 4:00 PM Recommendation was made to notify other providers that the committee has been established. Meeting adjourned at 5:09 pm. Respectfully submitted by Paige Terry as transcribed from a recording. Broadband and Telecommunications Committee Draft of Vision, Mission, Goals & Objectives SEPTEMBER 2024 Vision: (What do we want to see?) Exceptional access to broadband and telecommunications services for Bayfield County residents and visitors. Mission: (Who does what for whom?) The Broadband and Telecommunication Committee makes recommendations to the County Board to ensure exceptional access to broadband and telecommunications services for Bayfield County residents and visitors. Goals & Objectives (What do we want to see as a result of our efforts? How do we propose to achieve these results?) 1. Ensure broadband and telecommunications infrastructure and services are adequate to address the public health and safety needs of Bayfield County residents and visitors. a. Work with Bayfield County Emergency Management to evaluate efficacy of current systems 2. Develop broadband and telecommunications infrastructure and services that are adequate to support community and economic development needs, including telecommuting and telehealth, and other business and educational activities a. Work with Bayfield County Economic Development Corporation to evaluate efficacy of current systems 3. Mitigate impacts of broadband and telecommunications infrastructure on natural and cultural resources a. Evaluate current and proposed infrastructure for areas of negative impact b. Develop plan to alleviate negative impacts 4. Ensure equitable access to broadband and telecommunications services for Bayfield County residents a. Develop partnerships with service providers to expand broadband coverage to unserved and underserved residents b. Coordinate with Red Cliff to ensure reservation lands are adequately serviced with broadband and telecommunications services c. Utilize funding program opportunities to subside cost of services for income-qualified residents d. Work with partners to evaluate barriers to access 5. Increase opportunities for robust public participation in broadband and telecommunications infrastructure planning and siting a. Review current processes for public participation opportunities b. Make structural changes to siting process increase opportunities for public participation 6. Collaborate with service providers to support expansion and maintenance of broadband and telecommunications infrastructure a. Evaluate current partnerships b. Create a routine system of review and comment for the development of partnerships with private service providers c. Encourage and support partners in applying for funding for expansion of infrastructure and service areas 7. Stay abreast of broadband and telecommunications technology to ensure planning is future forward and will support anticipated future needs a. Work with partners and industry leaders to identify trends and opportunities 8. Ensure that broadband and telecommunications infrastructure planning is consistent with Bayfield County’s priorities as defined in the Bayfield County Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Maps a. Review and amend Bayfield County Comprehensive Plan to reconcile inconsistencies 9. Ensure that broadband and telecommunications infrastructure planning and siting is done in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws and local ordinances 10. Develop an expansion plan for broadband and telecommunications infrastructure and services a. Evaluate current coverage b. Identity areas in need of expanded coverage in accordance with the County’s priorities c. Proactively identify preferred locations and corridors for future siting of broadband and telecommunications infrastructure (towers, antennas, lines, etc.) d. Evaluate opportunities for public ownership of telecommunications infrastructure e. Develop methods to incentivize use of preferred locations by service providers f. Collaborate with service providers to support future expansion of broadband and telecommunications infrastructure in accordance with the expansion plan