Shoshone County continues to pursue BEAD fund after 'disappointing' challenge testing
Colleen Rosson speaks about ways to secure broadband for the area through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program.
CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press File
WALLACE — After the state's Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment challenge testing opened across the state in June, Colleen Rosson summed up the results in a single word: “disappointing.”
The Shoshone County grant administrator said the on the day challenge testing went live, the broadband office's map illustrating the FCC updates corrected the outdated information from the broadband office. While this didn’t change the parameters, it moved the goalpost for testing.
“It changed the ability to dispute the actual service received by subscribers accurately with the plan and resources we had,” Rosson said.
The broadband office hasn’t opened the map outlining areas eligible to be selected. Since the boundaries are unknown, the map may go by geopolitical or school district boundaries.
Shoshone County is lining up partnerships for internet service providers and design and build operators in order to be eligible to apply for BEAD funding to bring broadband to the Silver Valley.