With its broadband study in hand, Bell County is setting out to begin the solicitation process for vendors who can help build infrastructure, including middle mile.
Middle-mile fiber-optic networks deliver broadband connectivity and digital inclusion to rural communities by linking Internet backbones to last-mile Internet service providers (ISPs), according to a white paper.
“I’m fairly passionate about the broadband standpoint, not just from … the current impact it has on the public in general, but my staff currently manages 100 miles of fiber for county operation and use. We connect the five largest cities in Bell County.”
“Part of what we would like to do is take our current fiber — because that’s where Interstate 14, Interstate 35 is — our preference would be to partner and run fiber to the rural areas,” he said.
Laying rural fiber could help supercharge towers in the region and make way for fiber to the home, which many residents lack.
The county plans to explore ways vendors can interact on such a project and will issue a request for proposals in the coming weeks. Ward said the county is exploring how to use federal funding alongside private funds to maximize impact.
“What type of relationship would those vendors want to have with us?” is one question Ward has.
The IT director has already gone into silent mode regarding vendors, though, due to the upcoming opportunity.
“I’m trying to shoot for the end of the month to release an RFP to solicit interest in that plan,” Ward said. “And I can tell you, my phone rings … it seems like at least once a week with vendors who want to do something. Obviously, I can’t have conversations. I just tell them that an RFP is soon to be released to solicit the ISPs and asset owners to take this plan and see what’s the best way to make it a reality.”
Bell County has about 370,000 residents and 1,300 employees. Vendors may view guidelines for doing business on its website.
