RESOLUTION NO. 643
AUTHORIZING THE DISBURSEMENT OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING TO AND AGREEMENTS WITH VARIOUS BROADBAND SERVICE PROVIDERS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CONSERVATION AND PLANNING REGARDING EXPANDED INTERNET ACCESS THROUGHOUT ALBANY COUNTY AND AMENDING THE 2024 ALBANY COUNTY BUDGET
Introduced: 10/15/24
By ARPA Executive Committee:
WHEREAS, The County of Albany received $29.6 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) which may be used for various projects and programs within the County to help mitigate the long-term effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and
WHEREAS, The Albany County Legislature created the ARPA Executive Committee and its various Subcommittees to determine how these funds should be distributed and to review applications for these monies, and
WHEREAS, The ARPA Executive Committee and its various Subcommittees have worked tirelessly over the last year in order to establish guidelines that will assist them in reviewing and evaluating the numerous applications they will receive, and
WHEREAS, Albany County has supported broadband internet expansion projects throughout the County, targeting those areas that are either unserved and under-served, and
WHEREAS, Request for Proposals (RFP) 2024-059 was issued regarding projects to provide broadband services in the various Towns of Albany County, of which five proposals were received, and
WHEREAS, The ARPA Executive Committee, following the evaluation of numerous proposals, has requested authorization to disburse ARPA funding in the total amount of $2,907,700 to and enter into agreements with State Telephone Company Inc., in the amount of $110,000, and Mid-Hudson Cablevision in the amount of $2,797,700 regarding broadband expansion projects in Albany County for a term commencing October 15, 2024 and ending December 31, 2026, and
WHEREAS, New York State recently launched a County Partnerships Broadband Grant, designed to provide funding to counties throughout the state for broadband projects that have been competitively bid, with an emphasis on those projects that provide maximum coverage in a county’s geographical area, and
WHEREAS, Albany County has submitted an application under this grant, that, if awarded, would allow the County to double the number of addresses served by broadband projects throughout the County, and
WHEREAS, If the grant is awarded and adopted by a resolution of the County Legislature, the County Executive has requested authorization to instead enter into agreements with four of the respondents to RFP 2024-059 in order to serve roughly 1,100 unserved or under-served addresses in Albany County, in a total amount not to exceed $10,000,000, and
WHEREAS, If the grant is awarded and adopted by a resolution of the County Legislature, the County Executive has further requested authorization to amend the 2024 Department of Economic Development, Conservation and Planning Budget in order to allocate $100,000 for a technical consultant to assist with project implementation, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, By the Albany County Legislature that if the County of Albany is not awarded funding under the New York State County Partnership Broadband Grant, the County Executive is hereby authorized to disburse ARPA funding in the amount of $2,907,700 to and enter into agreements with State Telephone Company Inc., Coxsackie, NY 12051 in the amount of $110,000, and Mid-Hudson Cablevision, Catskill, NY 12414 in the amount of $2,797,700 regarding broadband expansion projects in Albany County for a term commencing October 15, 2024 and ending December 31, 2026, and, be it further
RESOLVED, By the Albany County Legislature that if the County of Albany is not awarded funding under the New York State County Partnership Broadband Grant, the 2024 Albany County Budget is hereby amended as follows:
Increase Revenue Account CM.41202C.04089Z.ARP24 by $2,907,700
Increase Appropriation Account CM.91202C.44046Z.ARP24 by $2,907,700 by increasing Line Item 44046Z.ARP24 by $2,907,700
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That if the County of Albany is awarded funding under the New York State County Partnership Broadband Grant and adopted by a resolution of the County Legislature, the County Executive is hereby authorized to disburse ARPA funding in the amount of $100,000 to and enter into an agreement with the Albany County Department of Economic Development, Conservation and Planning regarding a technical consultant to assist with broadband project implementation for a term commencing October 15, 2024 and ending December 31, 2026, and, be it further
RESOLVED, That if the County of Albany is awarded funding under the New York State County Partnership Broadband Grant and adopted by a resolution of the County Legislature, the County Executive is hereby authorized to disburse ARPA funding in the amount of $2,807,700 to and enter into agreements with State Telephone Company Inc., Coxsackie, NY 12051, Mid-Hudson Cablevision, Catskill, NY 12414, Spectrum Northeast, LLC., Stamford, CT 06901, and ArchTop Fiber LLC., Kingston, NY 12401 regarding broadband expansion projects in Albany County in a total project amount not to exceed $10,000,000 for a term commencing October 15, 2024 and ending December 31, 2026, and, be it further
RESOLVED, By the Albany County Legislature that if the County of Albany is awarded funding under the New York State County Partnership Broadband Grant and adopted by a resolution of the County Legislature, the 2024 Albany County Budget is hereby amended as follows:
Increase Revenue Account CM.41202C.04089Z.ARP24 by $2,907,700
Increase Appropriation Account CM.91202C.44046Z.ARP24 by $2,907,700 by increasing Line Item 44046Z.ARP24 by $2,907,700
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the County Attorney is authorized to approve said agreement as to form and content, and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the County Legislature is directed to forward certified copies of this resolution to the appropriate County Officials.