With less than 10 days until the deadline, county officials are encouraging residents to check their status — and challenge if necessary — the Federal Communication Commission’s National Broadband Map.

“(We are) doing this in an effort to get a better map,” Warren County Commissioner Tricia Durbin said during Wednesday’s Council of Governments meeting.

The map can be found — and searched by address — at broadbandmap.fcc.gov.

“Many times, third-party providers will put something out there,” she added, where “the reality may be different than what they’re claiming.”

She said anyone without the service to challenge should contact the commissioner’s office.

“We’re interested in putting some grants together,” Durbin explained, potentially using some of the county $7.5 million in American Rescue Plan funds as a match. Updating the maps, she said, aims to put the county “in the best position for federal funding.”

Gaps in service have been identified by efforts between the providers and the county’s IT contractor, she added.

“(We) do have a pretty good handle on that.”

“This is an infrastructure issue that we need to come to grips with,” Clarendon Borough Councilman Paul Pascuzzi said.

He said identifying areas that are underserved “is as important or more important” as road infrastructure.

“This is going to be a project (we) can’t get going on soon enough.”

BULK PURCHASE DISCUSSED

The municipal officials present at the COG meeting also discussed the supplies needed for a potential joint purchase of road treatment materials.

County Planner Dan Glotz said that seven municipalities had previously expressed an interest in such an arrangement, which can bring savings through bulk purchasing.

Officials plan to work on the details in the coming weeks in order to get a bid document ready to go next month.