Carbon County is still looking at its broadband access enhancement project after officials rejected the proposals it received.

On Thursday, the board of commissioners unanimously rejected two proposals from Lehigh Valley Hospital Inc. of Allentown and JLA Advisors LLC of Perkasie.

Lehigh Valley Hospital’s plan allowed the use of the current broadband capabilities to have two therapists provide therapy services to area school districts.

JLA’s would develop a package and design a telecommunication plan.

The commissioners had earmarked $500,000 from the Carbon COVID-19 Relief Block Grant for the enhancement of broadband in the county for the underserved and not served areas.

Commissioner Chris Lukasevich aired his disappointment with internet service providers who serve Carbon County for not submitting a proposal.

“I’m shocked to think that for a half-million dollars, these internet service providers or vendors of equipment such as hot spots could not have come up with a proposal to help residents telecommute, distance learn or otherwise gain access to telemedicine or other capabilities associated with broadband access,” Lukasevich said.

He noted that the county had identified the northern tier as underserved by broadband.

Weatherly School District had provided survey results with the commissioners prior to the request for proposals with regards to tele-education.

“I can’t believe that the broadband provider (Atlantic Broadband) couldn’t use a half-million dollars to at least positively impact one small cluster, one resident, one student, one elderly person who needed telemedicine,” Lukasevich said. “We would have at least considered it.”

Carbon County had sent out requests for proposals for broadband enhancements.

Requirements asked for improvements in service to be able to facilitate distance learning, telework and telemedicine to county residents.

“The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted deficiencies in broadband connectivity sufficient to meet … (these) necessities,” the RFP stated.

Lukasevich said of the two proposals the county rejected, “They clearly did not meet the basic requirement with what was requested. They didn’t nearly come close to meeting what was asked.”