A atory (Journal, Oct. 11) reported on a recent evening meeting of the Montezuma County Commissioners. On the topic of providing broadband service to the County, Commissioner Larry Don Suckla is reported to have said “there are many options” being considered.
I’m hoping that one of the options being considered is a public-private partnership with one of the cell phone companies to deliver wireless broadband service to the entire county. This would involve putting up a couple more cell towers to provide complete coverage of the county.
The wireless cell phone service currently offered is referred to as 4G LTE, which means an improvement over 3G (third generation) but not yet fully 4G (fourth generation). There is every reason to expect that phone technology will continue to improve. In the near future, when full-blown 4G service is offered, it will provide data transfer rates roughly equivalent to that being contemplated by running fiber optic cable throughout the county.
If such an arrangement could be worked out, it would provide several clear advantages:
First, it would cost a whole lot less than running fiber optic cable everywhere — probably so much less that no sales tax would be required. Second, it would be up and running much sooner. And third, rather than just “Fiber to the House,” there would be high speed internet service to the barn, your pickup, even your tractor cab, if that’s your thing.
So, all in all, I think it’s a good thing the sales tax question will not be on this November’s ballot. This will give us time, as Commissioner Suckla said, to look carefully at all the options. It seems like there may be a better way to assure everyone good broadband service.
Bob Waggoner
Cortez
