As subscribers to our newsletter and followers on facebook will know, over the last months the board of directors of KCB, along with its advisors and potential funders have been working through the procurement process to provide Next Generation Broadband to our region. At the beginning of August we moved from the clarification process into the critical evaluation stage. At present KCB, Farr Point and other advisors are scoring the submissions and subsequent to a moderation session decide whether to take the plans forward.
Given a positive outcome there will be an independent evaluation of the plans and then a decision by the HIE leadership group whether to bring our plans to the full board at their next meeting. With approval of the latter, KCB will be able to give the go ahead for the community broadband network to move into the next stage.
If these evaluation processes give a negative outcome, then KCB will register our community for R100.
Suffice to say this process is extremely complex, contingent on confidential matters and driven by KCB’s absolute commitment to get the best Broadband deal for everyone within the constraints law and funding set. We report as often as we can, and will let everyone know the results of this months’ deliberations as soon as possible!