Burke County Broadband Network

Background
Burke County has been tentatively approved for a Broadband Equity, Access & Deployment grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The County aims to build a fiber-based broadband network providing minimum symmetrical 100Mbs/100Mbs Fiber-To-The-Premise (FTTP) access to all unserved locations in Burke County, GA, excluding the City of Waynesboro and areas with existing broadband service.

This initiative is part of a three-year commitment to enhance broadband access across the county.

Work Details
The contractor will design, build, operate, and support a rural broadband network that includes:
1. A fiber-based network with 100/10Gbs capabilities.
2. FTTP access to identified unserved locations within Burke County, specifically targeting 898 unserved homes and businesses and 6521 underserved locations.
3. Detailed project network design including logical and physical systems.
4. Construction of necessary infrastructure such as fiber optic cable installation, vaults, and drops.
5. Provision of services including installation rates for residential and business customers.

Period of Performance
The contract will be executed over a three-year period starting from the initiation of construction, which is expected to begin no later than September 2026.

Place of Performance
The project will be performed throughout Burke County, Georgia, specifically targeting zip codes: 30830, 30815, 30434, 30805, 30816, 30456, 30441, 30442 & 30426.

Bidder Requirements
Proposers must have at least ten years of documented experience in delivering rural FTTP broadband services in Southeast Georgia. Compliance with e-Verify is required for both contractors and subcontractors. Proposers must also provide proof of insurance and bonding capacity.