HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 10-07-2025; 6-a - Appointments and Amendments to the Charge of the Orange County Broadband Task Force 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 7, 2025
Action Agenda
Item No. 6-a
SUBJECT: Appointments and Amendments to the Charge of the Orange County Broadband
Task Force
DEPARTMENT: County Manager
ATTACHMENTS: INFORMATION CONTACT:
Appointment Applications Travis Myren, 919-245-2308
Robert Reynolds, 919-245-2276
PURPOSE: To amend the charge, appoint two (2) Commissioners, reappoint two (2) At Large
members, and authorize the recruitment of three (3) new resident members to fill the vacant
Orange County Resident — At Large seats.
BACKGROUND: On November 17, 2020, the Board of Commissioners created a Broadband
Task Force. The group included the County Manager, Information Technology Department
Director, a representative from the North Carolina Department of Information Technology
(NCDIT), Orange County Schools Superintendent, Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools
Superintendent and five (5) Community members living in the unincorporated areas of Orange
County who are underserved, including those with an interest in resolving the digital divide in
Orange County.
The Task Force's charge was to discuss broadband solutions that will improve the quality of high-
speed internet services to Orange County residents and to recommend a plan to the Board of
Orange County Commissioners to expand reliable high-speed internet services to all County
residents and businesses. The work of the Task Force culminated in an incentive-based contract
with North State Communications Advanced Services, LLC (now Lumos) to deploy broadband
technology in rural Orange County.
During spring 2024, Lumos began experiencing delays due to construction and budget issues,
and much of the construction activity on the project slowed considerably. Lumos reported that
those issues had an impact on the overall project schedule and drove the project well over budget.
Lumos subsequently proposed to lower the number of addresses served from 6,370 to 5,852,
completing 92% of the passings in the original contract. Consistent with reducing the number of
passings, the amendment also lowered the total payment to Lumos from $10 million to $9.2
million. In response to the amendment, Commissioner Jean Hamilton petitioned that the Board
reestablish the Broadband Task Force.
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Proposed Composition
Later discussion on the amendment suggested that the same members of the Task Force be
asked if they were willing to serve on a reconvened group. Resident appointees Patricia Hull and
Terri Buckner expressed interest in serving on the reconvened Task Force. Other resident
members have moved or did not respond, leaving three (3) Orange County Resident — At Large
seats vacant. The table below represents the proposed composition of the 2025 Task Force.
Representation 2021 Appointee 2025 Appointee
County Manager (Designee) Travis Myren, Deputy County Travis Myren, County Manager
Manager
Orange County Chief Jim Northrup Robert Reynolds
Information Officer
Chapel Hill Carrboro City Doug Noell, Director of IT Doug Noell, Director of IT
Schools Superintendent Operations Operations
(Designee)
Orange County Schools Dr. Monique Felder,
Superintendent (Designee) Superintendent OCS Superintendent Designee
Durham Technical Victoria P. Deaton, Compliance
Community College Specialist Office of Institutional Awaiting response
Representative —Equity and Inclusion
Board of Commissioners - 1 Sally Greene BOCC Appointment
Board of Commissioners — 2 Earl McKee BOCC Appointment
Orange County Resident— Todd Broucksou BOCC Appointment
At Large (Not Available/Not Eligible)
Orange County Resident— Terri Buckner BOCC Appointment
At Large (INTERESTED/ELIGIBLE)
Orange County Resident— Paul Cardillo BOCC Appointment
At Large (Not Available/Not Eligible)
Orange County Resident— Patricia Hull BOCC Appointment
At Large (INTERESTED/ELIGIBLE)
Orange County Resident— Vasu Kilaru BOCC Appointment
At Large (Not Available/Not Eligible)
Proposed Charge
The Task Force's proposed charge is consistent with the initial charge, with the addition of items
#3 and #4 below:
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1. To discuss broadband solutions that will improve the quality of high-speed internet services
to Orange County residents, and
2. To recommend a plan to the Board of Orange County Commissioners to expand reliable
high-speed internet services to all County residents and businesses.
3. To update and track broadband coverage needs as State and Federal program awards are
made.
4. To consult with County staff on how to best communicate information related to broadband
coverage to all residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: No costs other than staff time are currently contemplated.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports:
• GOAL 5: PUBLIC EDUCATION/LEARNING COMMUNITY
OBJECTIVE 2. Improve school readiness and educational outcomes by providing access,
training, tools, technology, and other resources needed to thrive.
• GOAL 6: DIVERSE AND VIBRANT ECONOMY
OBJECTIVE 3. Streamline and digitize business processes to facilitate efficient
interactions between employers and County departments.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1) Approve the amended charge for the Broadband Task Force;
2) Appoint two (2) Commissioners and reappoint two (2) At Large members, Patricia Hull and
Terri Buckner, to the Task Force through September 30, 2028; and
3) Authorize the Clerk to the Board of Commissioners to advertise for applications from
residents to fill the three (3) remaining Orange County Resident — At Large seats. The
application deadline would be October 26, 2025, with a plan for the Board to review
applications and appoint the three members at the Board's November 6, 2025 Business
meeting.
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Page 1 of 1 Patricia Hull
Volunteer Application
Orange County Advisory Boards and Commissions
Name: Patricia Hull
Name Called:
Home Address: 1213 Crowsnest Dr
Hurdle Mills NC 27541
Phone: 919-451-8622
Email: pat.hull@duke.edu
Year of OC Residence: 2005
Township of Residence: Cedar Grove
Zone of Residence: County
Gender Identity: Female
Ethnic Background: White
Age Range: 60+
Community Activities/Organizational Memberships:
none
Past Service on Orange County Advisory Boards:
none
Boards/Commissions applied for:
Orange County Broadband Task Force
Background, education and experience relevant to this board:
I reside in a rural, wooded area of Orange County that does not currently have good high speed
internet available. I am employed as a data analyst for Duke University and am proficient in the
use of computer technology. I also have a master s degree in urban planning.
Reasons for wanting to serve on this board:
The pandemic has made me more conscious of the need for universal access to high speed
internet. Some rural areas are currently underserved and I would like to help identify ways to
improve service to these areas.
Contribution to the diversity of viewpoints on this board:
As a homeowner in a rural area I feel I can represent the needs of end users.
Conflict of Interest:
Boards/Commissions appointments:
Other Comments:
This application was current on: 1/6/2021 10:24:10 AM Date Printed: 1/6/2021
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Page 1 of 2 Terri Buckner
Volunteer Application
Orange County Advisory Boards and Commissions
Name: Terri Buckner
Name Called:
Home Address: 306 Yorktown Drive
Chapel Hill NC 27516
Phone: 9196728271
Email: tbuckner@ibiblio.org
Year of OC Residence: 1976
Township of Residence: Chapel Hill
Zone of Residence: Carrboro ETJ
Gender Identity: Female
Ethnic Background: White
Age Range: 60+
Community Activities/Organizational Memberships:
Carrboro Truth Plaque Committee (chair) Carrboro Affordable Housing Commission (appt
ends Feb 1)
Past Service on Orange County Advisory Boards:
OWASA Board of Directors
Commission for the Environment
Boards/Commissions applied for:
Orange County Broadband Task Force
Background, education and experience relevant to this board:
I served on the Chapel Hill Information Technology Advisory Committee that recommended the
town work with NC DOT to lay fiber cable when the traffic signal system was upgraded and I was
the project manager on the North Carolina Next Generation Network project through UNC in
coalition with Duke, NC State and Wake Forest along with Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham,
Winston Salem and Raleigh. Our goal was to bring broadband to all of the participating
communities at a reasonable price. Separately, I have worked on numerous technology planning
projects through UNC, Old Dominion, and Florida State.
Reasons for wanting to serve on this board:
In today s economy, broadband needs to be treated like any other utility. Children need it for
school, entrepreneurs need it to do business, everyone needs it for healthcare, paying bills, and
generally living their lives. I have the educational background and the professional experience to
help make it a reality.
Contribution to the diversity of viewpoints on this board:
The committee needs to know what the Commissioners want to accomplish and then provide 2-
3 scenarios for how that goal can be accomplished. The only diversity issues I am aware of for
this matter is cost and location. Any solution needs to be affordable for the lowest income levels
in the county without any reduction in quality/access. And that must be the case regardless of
where they live in the county. I am committed to making the case for those levels of equity.
Conflict of Interest:
None
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Page 2 of 2 Terri Buckner
Other Comments:
This application was current on: 12/30/2020 Date Printed: 1/4/2021