Board awards two E‑Rate Category 1 contracts: Midco for bandwidth and 7 0 2 Communications for dark fiber

District technology staff presented two Category 1 E‑Rate procurement items and the board approved both at the Jan. 12 meeting.

On the Internet bandwidth procurement, staff recommended awarding the bid to Midco as the lowest‑cost provider and said the district would double bandwidth at an estimated savings of “$1,450 a month.” The presenter said the district intends to take the maximum allowable term for Category 1 bandwidth (five years) under E‑Rate rules. The board approved the Midco award by voice vote after a motion and second.

Separately, the board reviewed bids to replace expiring fiber connections that link Dorothy Dodds Elementary and the Vista Center for Education to Moorhead High School. Staff explained differences between lit and dark fiber, noting dark fiber preserves redundancy and control. Because 7 0 2 Communications already has fiber in the ground, staff recommended continuing with that vendor to avoid build‑out risk and to add additional strand redundancy. The motion approved a 120‑month contract with 7 0 2 Communications at a total cost of $550 per month beginning July 1, 2026.

The presenter reiterated that E‑Rate rules require the district to front costs and then receive reimbursement (the presenter stated a 60% reimbursement rate), so initial payments are the district’s responsibility with later reimbursement from the Universal Service Fund.