BACKGROUND AND PROJECT SUMMARY:
Aransas County experienced a communications blackout during Hurricane Harvey as a result of downed telephone poles and broken aerial cables. [insert Harvey aftermath picture if desired]. The County realized that communication was critical in successfully and quickly beginning recovery operations. Establishment of an improved communications ability like a “fiber optic loop system” became part of the adopted Long-Term Recovery Plan. With that plan in mind the County began seeking out ways to mitigate the problem of the “aerial communications infrastructure” in our area. The County began to look at installing its own underground fiber optic cable that would branch out and connect to key operation centers for the local government entities.
The project grew and the County started looking at how it could benefit not just the government entities, but the citizens in the community who were also without communications capabilities after Harvey. The terms, “Digital Equality” and “Digital Divide” kept coming up as the team discussed this project to peers around the state. Aransas County gained traction and began partnering with neighboring counties. With the lack of broadband infrastructure across the United States and Texas, combined with the initial momentum, a grant from Texas General Land Office (GLO) was awarded to Aransas County to conduct a Fiber Optic Loop Feasibility Study funded by CDBG-DR resources.
The study is headed by CobbFendley, a professional engineering firm selected through a rigorous Request for Qualification process, who will develop a plan and public report for the feasibility of making Aransas County a broadband-ready community into a reality. The report is expected to be completed and released in summer of 2021.
As part of the effort to close the funding gap for the actual network build, Aransas County is also the lead county representing five others, including San Patricio County, Refugio County, City of Rockport, Victoria County and Nueces County. This additional grant (which is not yet approved) is for $47 million (CDBG-hazard and mitigation). Additional partners like the City of Victoria are being briefed on the effort.
KEY PURPOSE: The main purpose of the study is to outline a plan for developing a fiber optic network that would be resilient to natural disasters such as Harvey.
In order to better prepare for future emergencies along the Coastal Bend, a fiber Optic network needs to be developed that will assist local, state and federal officials communicate under extreme emergency conditions. The network (If developed over the next few years) has secondary benefits that will assist the local economy. The hope is that this will be fully funded, but right now this is just a study to determine the feasibility and estimated costs of designing the network.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT:
Aransas County held a virtual public engagement workshop with CobbFendley and Pioneer Partners on March 4, 2021 to welcome feedback from the community on the need for broadband services in our community. The session was recorded and is now made public for viewing.
We welcome and encourage ongoing follow up questions and comments.
As a workshop summary, here are just some of the project benefits (if implemented):
Primary:
- Public Safety
- Emergency Communications
- First Responders
- Personal Communications
Secondary:
- Bridging the Digital Divide
- Education
- Remote Work
- Telehealth
- Healthcare
- Employment Opportunities
- Access to Information
- Other
- Infrastructure Monitoring
- Utility
- Economic Development
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Several questions were submitted from the public in advance of the workshop, during registration, as well as during the live virtual event. These questions will be posted along with relevant answers soon.
