To: Dr. Beverly Brown, Community & Economic Development Committee Chairperson
From: Michael Dawisha, CIO
title
RE: Approval of a request to negotiate an agreement with Pivot-Tech to create an IRS 63-20 LLC corporation to build and operate a Genesee County Broadband network
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Enter into an agreement with Pivot-Tech to create an IRS 63-20 LLC corporation to build and operate a Genesee County Broadband network.
BACKGROUND:
In May 24, 2024, the county launched a broadband taskforce, as approved by the board with resolution 2023-208. The County has evaluated options for improving broadband availability, reliability, and affordability throughout the community. During this multi-year effort, the broadband committee researched broadband technologies, funding models, ownership structures, and public-private partnership opportunities. The taskforce also interviewed broadband experts, internet service providers, infrastructure companies, consultants, and other vendors to better understand existing service gaps and identify practical approaches for developing a sustainable county-wide network. As part of this due diligence, the County partnered with Merit Network to conduct a county-wide broadband survey. The survey gathered information directly from residents and businesses regarding internet availability, service quality, connection speeds, reliability, affordability, and unmet needs. The results provided the County with locally sourced data to supplement publicly available coverage information and helped demonstrate the need for a coordinated broadband strategy. The County subsequently reviewed potential solutions in light of the survey findings, stakeholder input, technical considerations, anticipated costs, available infrastructure, and opportunities to expand service into unserved and underserved areas. Through this process, the taskforce determined that a county-wide approach offers the strongest opportunity to create reliable and scalable broadband infrastructure, promote competition, support economic development, and ensure that rural and other difficult-to-serve areas are included in the County’s long-term plans. Based on its investigation and evaluation, the County identified Pivot-Tech as a qualified partner to assist with the planning, design, development, and implementation of a county-wide broadband network. Pivot-Tech’s proposed services are intended to help the County translate the information gathered through its research and survey work into an actionable network strategy, including appropriate technical design, deployment phases, cost estimates, funding opportunities, and operating considerations. Contracting with Pivot-Tech represents the next step in a deliberate, multi-year process. The proposed engagement will build upon the County’s prior research, expert and vendor interviews, stakeholder participation. It will also provide the specialized technical and strategic expertise needed to advance the project while protecting the County’s interests and positioning the network for long-term sustainability. Approval of the resolution will authorize the County to enter into an agreement with Pivot-Tech, subject to the terms, funding limitations, procurement requirements, and legal review stated in the resolution and accompanying contract. The proposed action supports the County’s goal of establishing modern broadband infrastructure that expands access, strengthens public services, encourages private investment, and provides long-term benefits to residents and businesses throughout the County.
DISCUSSION:
The taskforce’s work revealed that there were concerns that residents, businesses, schools, healthcare providers, agricultural operations, and public agencies do not have consistent access to the high-speed internet service needed for education, employment, healthcare, commerce, public safety, and other essential services. This proposal will create hard assets of 500 to 700 million dollars in fiber infrastructure. Studies of other counties and municipalities have shown dramatic regional economic returns on investment.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
None
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
There will potentially be an investment required to create the startup 63-20 LLC corporation.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
None known at this time.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
None known at this time
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
This initiative advances the county’s purpose of Community and Economic Growth and Long Term Financial Stability.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Chief Information Officer to authorize negotiating an agreement with Pivot-Tech Development, Inc., to create an IRS 63-20 LLC corporation to build and operate a Genesee County Broadband network, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documents being on file with the official records of the September 16, 2026, meeting of the Community and Economic Development Committee of this Board), with any resulting agreement to be brought back to this Board for final approval.