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OPINION: Serious Concerns About Broadband Application |
William Tookey | 9/2/10
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EDITOR'S NOTE: The following letter was submitted to Colorado state legislator Bruce Whitehead by chair of the Southwest Colorado Council of Governments, William Tookey.
The newly formed Southwest Colorado Council of Governments (SWCCOG) wanted to make you aware of our concerns about a BTOP Broadband application submitted by Southwest Colorado Broadband LLC (Application ID#5318) titled “Total Broadband Access for Southwest Colorado”
Initially, the SWCCOG was very interested in supporting the Southwest Colorado Broadband LLC group’s application for funding in our region. The City of Durango actually wrote an initial letter of support. However since that time several developments have occurred that have caused us to not support their application.
 Through feedback received from a number of the SWCCOG members (which is comprised of the municipal and county governmental organizations in the five southwest Colorado counties that this application covers) and several local businesses and organizations, the Southwest Colorado Broadband LLC group has not followed up on their original position to collaborate or partner with local public and private entities, but in fact compete with them.
Of even more serious concern, the City of Durango’s support letter was withdrawn before the application deadline but the letter was still submitted as part of the Southwest Colorado Broadband LLC group application. They claim it was a clerical error.
The SWCCOG is also concerned about the impact this non-local applicant will have on locally based, longtime companies that have been actively collaborating to meet the telecommunication needs of our region. A local company has also submitted an application when it was apparent that the Southwest Colorado Broadband LLC group was not interested in collaborating with existing efforts and didn’t have the region’s real needs in mind. The SWCCOG members are concerned about a federally funded entity will put local providers out of business causing our region to lose longstanding, locally based jobs and dollars circulating in our communities as well as ultimately creating a less competitive market.
The SWCCOG, at their May 7, 2010 meeting asked that members of our elected delegation be sent this letter to make you aware of our concerns. La Plata County and Region 9 EDD have submitted letters directly to US Commerce Secretary. Our worry is that local concerns such as ours might not be considered by the Department of Commerce BTOP staff, (especially as the application has moved forward), whereas out State’s elected delegation might be able to ensure that our local voices and concerns are at least heard and considered.
Please feel free to contact me at 970-387-5766 if you need additional information. |
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