Pictured: The Bartholomew County Courthouse is pictured behind the Commons on Jan. 24, 2017, in downtown Columbus. Mike Wolanin | The Republic
COLUMBUS, Ind. — A Brown County man who once held a cabinet-level position in Indiana state government will work to bring the best high-speed internet to Bartholomew County residents.
Scott Rudd, the CEO of Rudd Consulting LLC of Nashville, has been hired to examine two proposals on how Bartholomew County government should invest $4 million from the (federal) American Rescue Plan for broadband expansion into rural areas.
Rudd will be paid $125 an hour to examine the bids opened Dec. 20 from Meridiam Infrastructure North America Corp. and AT&T Internet Services. The professional services agreement from the Bartholomew County commissioners for the broadband evaluation is not to exceed $10,000, the commissioners said.
After bids were open on Dec. 20, county attorney Grant Tucker said both proposals were so lengthy and complex, he needed assistance in deciphering them.
While commissioner Tony London chairs the county’s broadband initiative committee, he said he could comprehend only a small portion of what was written on both bids.
“There’s an awful lot of technical information I do not understand,” London said. “We would be doing a great injustice to the people of Bartholomew County if we did not get an expert, because (these bids) will make a huge and permanent impact.”
Commissioner Carl Lienhoop said both proposals are more than 100 pages long, with one stretching out to almost 150 pages.
While working in the office of Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Rudd served as Director of Broadband Opportunities from Aug, 2018 to Oct., 2021. He has also been a member of the broadband deployment advisory committee for the Federal Communications Commission.
For the complete story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
