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Colorado to use $826 million in federal funds to expand high-speed internet availability
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DENVER7, State

Colorado to use $826 million in federal funds to expand high-speed internet availability

By Jessica Crawford | Denver 7 News Colorado is another step closer to providing more high-speed internet access across the state. The Biden administration on Tuesday approved the state's plan to expand broadband across Colorado, allowing officials to access more than $826 million for the project. The money comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, which set aside millions of dollars for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program (BEAD). The funds would provide grants to internet service providers, allowing them to expand internet access in under-served parts of the state. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER 7 NEWS
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Bill to boost rural broadband, opposed by Polis administration, dies in committee
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coloradopolitics.com, State

Bill to boost rural broadband, opposed by Polis administration, dies in committee

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics A panel of Colorado lawmakers on Wednesday rejected legislation that would have prohibited the Colorado Department of Transportation from charging annual fees for right-of-way access to deploy broadband networks in some of the most remote areas of rural Colorado.  The Polis administration, which is pushing for high-speed broadband access to 99% of Coloradans in three years, opposed the measure.   Introduced back in January, negotiations over Senate Bill 91 with the Colorado Department of Transportation — whose fees broadband providers claimed would make rural access unaffordable — delayed its first hearing until this week, just a few days before the end of the 2024 legislative session. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLIT...
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Open letter to the sponsors of SB24-091, and members of the Joint Technology Committee
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Commentary, State

Open letter to the sponsors of SB24-091, and members of the Joint Technology Committee

By Cory Gaines | Logan County, Co. Hello to all, My name is Cory Gaines and I'm a resident of Logan County, Colo. I am one of a very few lucky people to live in a town where I can get broadband internet, but I know many in locations similar to mine are not so fortunate. Broadband internet to me and those who are geographically situated similarly to me presents economic opportunity and growth. It might be something that people (and lawmakers) along the Front Range take for granted, but I want you to think about what your life would look like with either dial up or perhaps no internet: * Without broadband, your educational/enrichment opportunities are narrowed.* Without broadband, potential access to jobs that are full time with benefits is narrowed.* Without broadband, there is ...
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Legislators at odds on broadband right-of-way fees
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coloradopolitics.com, State

Legislators at odds on broadband right-of-way fees

By Ed Sealover | Colorado Politics While state broadband officials ready their action plan to expand fiber to 99% of Colorado, a dispute over the amount of fees that telecommunications companies must pay to install lines along public rights of way has stalled dueling legislative efforts to define those fees. A bipartisan quartet of legislators introduced Senate Bill 91 just two weeks into the 2024 session on Jan. 24 at the behest of Colorado Counties Inc. and rural telecom companies. The bill lets the Colorado Department of Transportation impose a one-time permitting fee to lay broadband fiber along rights of way but prohibits it from charging annual fees — reversing a policy enacted in December by the Colorado Transportation Commission. Meanwhile, the Joint Technology Committee c...
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