State Reps Request Broadband Project Investigation

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Several Arizona State Representatives are asking the State’s Attorney General to investigate the approval of a broadband project in Yuma County. The lawmakers claimed the procurement process was “flawed and potentially illegal” and involved violations of state law and the Gift Clause of the Arizona Constitution.

The action in question is the approval of a Master Agreement for Network Design and Construction Services with a Nebraska-based company, ALLO Communications, for a Broadband Middle Mile Fiber Network. It was to be paid for with federal COVID relief funds that were earmarked for broadband in underserved areas of Yuma County.

In mid-2021, Yuma County issued a Request for Proposals for the construction of a “countywide broadband middlemile fiber backbone connecting local internet carriers to major networks” with a price tag of more than $30,000,000. The letter from the lawmakers purports that several bids by eligible vendors were “inexplicably rejected” by Yuma County in favor of ALLO, which the lawmakers claimed was an ineligible vendor. 

“Some aspects of this procurement dispute are the subject of litigation in the Yuma County Superior Court. Nonetheless, we cannot ignore Yuma County’s apparent disregard of Arizona law and the lack of oversight and accountability surrounding this critical project,” the letter reads.

The Representatives also accused ALLO of changing the work order, raising prices, and “significantly” increasing hourly rates and the terms relating to the number of hours spent on design and permitting, after executing the Master Agreement.

By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor

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