Carbon County is again looking at improving broadband access in the area.

Last week, the board of commissioners approved a professional service agreement with Design Nine Inc. of Blackburg, Virginia, to perform a broadband feasibility study for the county. The cost for the study is $61,250 and will take place between Jan. 1 through April 30.

Commissioner Chris Lukasevich said the goal of the study is “to determine what gaps we have in providing broadband to Carbon County residents, look at the current existing providers and ... what technologies can be leveraged in a partnering manner so bringing in private and public and nonprofits to provide enhanced service for telemedicine, tele-education and telework.”

The scope of work for the study is to inventory the existing fiber networks; provide an analysis of the current broadband providers’ services, pricing strategies and coverage areas; map the locations of existing fiber and broadband related electronics and broadband speed by provider; and provide an assessment of the services available to existing and prospective businesses and how that impacts economic development efforts.

From there, the study will also look at identifying groups that can help the county achieve its broadband goals, identify possible grant or financing opportunities and provide a financial projection and costs of building a network.

Last year, the commissioners attempted to create a broadband access enhancement project but ultimately, rejected the two proposals that came in because they didn’t meet the needs of the county.

At that time, 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.