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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBroadband and Telecommunications Advisory Committee - Minutes - 9/10/20241 Minutes of the Bayfield County Broadband and Telecommunications Advisory Committee Meeting 4:00pm, September 10, 2024 Meeting was held Remotely through Microsoft Teams and in person in the Bayfield County Board Room, Washburn, WI Members Present: Leo Carlson (on behalf of Chad Young), Josh Pearson, Jessica Waclawski, Jamie Paterson, Evan Keller, Nicole Boyd, Mary Dougherty, Ken Vlasek, Steve Sandstrom, Shawna Barnes, Zach Larson, Mike Cariveau Members Excused: Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Evan Keller-Red Cliff Tribal IT Director, Mark Leonard-Wisconsin Public Service Commission Broadband Planning and Policy Coordinator, Mitch Olson-BugTussel Chief Development Officer, Kellie Pederson-UW Extension Community Development Educator Call to Order: Called to order at 4:00p.m. by Committee Chair Steve Sandstrom. Minutes from August 13, 2024: Motion by Vlasek, seconded by Dougherty to approve the minutes from the August 13, 2024 meeting. Motion carried. Introductions: Introductions of committee members and attendees were made. Mark Leonard, Wisconsin PSC, Update: Mark Leonard stated that recent data shows that Bayfield County has 67 eligible locations for BEAD. The county would need to endorse an ISP on any BEAD project applications with the County Board making the motion of endorsement. The PSC is still waiting on NTI approval for the final eligible location listing. Leonard reviewed a map showing the eligible locations with the committee and gave a review of the BEAD program to the committee. Discussion took place regarding BEAD project guidelines. Committee Purpose, Goals and Objectives: The committee reviewed and discussed a draft version of the committee’s vision, mission, and goals and objectives as provided by Kellie Pederson. The following suggestions were made: Vision/Mission: • Defining the term “access” • Incorporate an element regarding the protection of our natural resources • Incorporate an element regarding infrastructure that can be built upon Goals & Objectives: • List an objective to positively state what the measurements and goals for each objective or add metrics to necessary objectives • Review the use of the word “adequate” in terms of access throughout the objectives/goals compared to the use of the word “exceptional” in the vision statement • Determine if emergency channels are included when evaluating efficiency 2 • Include shared workspaces and indoor and outdoor community spaces when it comes to access • Include an element regarding determining the impact on natural and cultural resources in the areas where connectivity belongs • Continued monitoring of infrastructure to ensure service provider compliance • Merge objectives seven and ten Committee members discussed several questions that they would like to answer during the committee’s term, including, but not limited to: • What is the current status of coverage in terms of broadband and telecommunications? • Does the information represent our community values? • What data is informing the decisions? • What story is the data telling us? • What is the community need versus the private buyer? • How can the committee strategically efficiently define the term “exceptional access” while also identifying and delivering the services to meet the needs of the community? • What is access and how do people define it? • What does adequate access look like in respect to protecting natural and cultural resources? • Can we make the data easy for the community to understand so community members can make informed decisions? • How can we have the greatest positive effect to the greatest number of people in the county? Pederson stated that she will take all the information discussed and produced a revised version of the document to the committee at the next meeting. Mitch Olson, BugTussel Development Officer Program Review in Surrounding Counties: Mitch Olson reviewed a coverage map with the committee. Sandstrom ask that Olson provide a longer presentation at the next meeting. Bayfield Wireless and Norvado Program Review: Carlson provided an update on behalf of Norvado and stated that the provider is trying to determine if they will apply to BEAD and how the process will work for Norvado. Carlson stated that the 67 eligible locations in the county are some of the most difficult locations to get access to. Cariveau provided an update on behalf of Bayfield Wireless and stated that the provider does not intend on applying to BEAD. Cariveau reviewed the current construction projects underway for Bayfield Wireless and explained that the provider recently turned up additional services in Ashland that covers additional sites in both Ashland and Bayfield Counties. Bayfield Wireless is in the process of constructing an additional tower in the Town of Barksdale that’ll provide service most of the way to Mason and fill service holes in the Towns of Washburn and Barksdale. Cariveau stated that the project is late is because there is a lot of redundancy between Bayfield Wireless and Norvado in terms of grant applications. Bayfield Wireless does have a lot of coverage in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and the provider continues to build out services. Resources 3 Committee Member Reports: There were no reports. Next Meeting Date: October 8, 2024 at 4:00 PM Meeting adjourned at 6:19 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Paige Terry as transcribed from a recording.