Specifications include, but are not limited to: Westmoreland County is seeking Proposals from qualified ISPs to assist in the targeted expansion, construction, and deployment of broadband infrastructure and service to exclusively unserved locations of the county that do not have access to the internet. Not only is the County interested in expanding the network to those in need, but, in alignment with the Authority, it is also looking to address affordability to ensurethat access can be achieved at a reasonable cost. Westmoreland County was already studying the speedand availability of broadband throughout its 65 municipalities when the coronavirus pandemic exacerbatedthe need to be digitally connected. Even more so than before, the circumstances called for individuals,families, and businesses to have access to reliable high-speed internet to attend school, conduct business,and for telemedicine.During the summer of 2022, Westmoreland County launched a collaborative research initiativeaimed at analyzing its current broadband infrastructure to develop a comprehensive approach to aid inplanning efforts for connecting residents and businesses with high-speed, affordable internet access. Aspart of this research, existing infrastructure was inventoried to establish the location of unserved locationsand field crews distributed door hangers to homes and businesses inviting them to take part in a broadbandsurvey and speed test. In addition, numerous ISPs were engaged to have open discussions related toWestmorelandCounty’sintent forbroadbandexpansion, to gather information, with some entering into Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), to lay the foundation for future Westmoreland County and ISP partnerships. The results of the Data Collection and Feasibility Study completed in January 2023 can be found here on the Westmoreland County project website: https://westmorelandbroadband.org/.
