Located north of Dallas, TX, Cooke County is revising its RFP language in hopes of enticing interested bidders to take a look at broadband expansion possibilities. As the Gainesville Daily Register notes, the county’s current Request For Proposal offer has not attracted a flurry of interest. With many rural residents still lacking adequate connectivity, the county has placed the matter in the hands of the Cooke County Commissioners Court.
The Cooke County Commissioners Court has picked up where the broadband advisory committee left off. The county is still sitting on $2.7 million in federal stimulus funds available which could be used to give rural broadband outreach a shot in the arm. After reviewing the county’s goals and resources, the Court has suggested that the retooled RFPs give vendors the chance to bid on (1) fiber networking; (2) wireless networking; or (3) a combination of both deployment methods.
“We’re gonna revise the RFP and put it back out,” stated Precinct 1 Commissioner Gary Hollowell. “If somebody sees something different, please let us know and give us some guidance.”
Ongoing avenues for broadband relationships include possible partnerships with Nortex and wireless provider Next Link, or local options backed by state level funding. The Gainesville Daily Register hinted that Texas is mulling over its broadband programs, which may lead to even more monetary incentives for broadband development in Cooke County.
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