As Cortez enters the 21st century, residents will not only expect water and garbage services from their city but high-speed broadband as well.
In the coming weeks, the Colorado Governors Office of Information Technology will survey Southwest Colorado residents and businesses to find out how they use the Internet and to learn the challenges of broadband deployment.
Meanwhile, business participation on Cortezs own municipal fiber-optic network has exceeded expectations with 76 drops purchased to connect 98 Cortez businesses to the network.
Rick Smith, director of the citys General Services Department, said crews are working to get the drops connected and to extend conduit to the west side of Broadway Street.
(The demand) exceeded my expectations, he said. Its a good problem to have. ... I think the business owners see the value in being connected to the fiber for the long-term future. I think they see it as a way to stay competitive and enhance their business.
Cortezs municipal network is a public-private partnership that is part of a larger regional hub for other networks in Mancos, Dolores, Rico and Dove Creek. The larger regional network is dubbed the Southwest Colorado Open Access Network and is centered in Durango.
We view the survey as a valuable tool in determining demand for broadband services at the local level, Ed Morlan, executive director of the Region 9 Southwest economic development district, said in a written statement Friday. We have to diagnose (broadband deficiencies) before we can cure it.
The latest section of the Cortez Community Network, which extends to many businesses along the Main Street corridor as far east as Cortez Plaza, is slated to be online as soon as next month.
The Unlimited Learning Center in Cortez was the first business to plug in. The center offers videocast classes to classrooms as far away as remote Alaskan villages.
City officials hope the network will attract businesses to the city.
Its going to give us an advantage that other communities dont have, Smith said. Youve got communities starting to take notice of what Cortez is doing, and its exciting.
Businesses interested in joining the network can purchase drops to physically connect to the fiber-optic line. Drops currently cost a one-time fee of $150 for a small business or home and $175 for a medium business. Other rates are available for large businesses and multi-unit buildings.
The drop is similar in concept to a water tap because it stays with the property and might increase the propertys value, Smith said.
Private companies eventually will provide services through the network, and usage rates may vary by provider.
The Cortez project utilizes grant money to construct a fiber-optic network for businesses in the Main Street corridor to be managed in a public-private partnership.
The city of Cortez will build and maintain the network, which expands on a 50,000-foot existing network connecting schools, the hospital, fire district, government buildings and law enforcement structures.
The current $1 million phase of the project connects interested businesses along the Main Street corridor.
Private television, Internet, telephone, and security system providers can tap into the city fiber-optic network to provide their services to business customers.
Although no private service providers have signed a contract to participate, the list of service providers invited to use the network includes Farmers Telephone Co., Baja Broadband, Velocity.net Internet Services, Fasttrack Communications, Brainstorm Internet, PacketRail, Skywerx Industries, the area television district and Alpine Security, which might be able to provide security system services through the network.
When completed, the network could provide a blazing 2.4 gigabits-per-second data download rate for a price that is comparable to a digital subscriber line, or DSL.
The project is funded by a $750,000 Southwest Colorado Council of Governments Grant, with a $250,000 city contribution. It is part of a statewide fiber-optic infrastructure development plan.
The long-term goal is to expand the fiber-optic service to every home and business in Cortez, officials say.
Business owners interested in purchasing a drop can call the city service center at 564-4055.
The governors office survey can be taken with pollsters at public places in Cortez, by mail upon request or online at: www.colorado.gov/OIT/broadband. Individuals interested in receiving a mail survey can call 303-764-7917.
Id just like to thank the community for their patience with getting the streets patched, Smith said. Its been really great to see the support from the businesses.
Reach Reid Wright at reidw@cortezjournal.com.
