Draft letter must make it to Washington by June 16
By Gary Massaro
Colorado students aren’t just hogtied, but blindfolded as well when it comes to learning on the Internet.
Problem: Most Colorado public schools are wired for the dark ages, not with fiberoptics that feed computer stuff to schools in Nebraska and Utah, but with copper wires that carry far fewer signals.
The problem is cost as well.
It costs a school $1,200 a month to carry the old copper-wired connection to the Internet.
Rotary Club members, from left: Peter Jeschofnig, Peter Klug and Grant Wilkins are lobbying for federal money to replace old-fashioned copper wiring, right, with faster, more efficient fiberoptics, left, to give Colorado students a boost in the classroom. Photo by Gary Massaro
“Schools have about one-tenth the bandwidth that most of us see in our homes and businesses – for $1,200 a month, when most of us pay $30 or $40 a month,” said John Klug, an inventor and Rotarian.
Schools are financially strapped as it is, with some districts cutting teachers and programs, charging bus fare, increasing class sizes, which educators say is detrimental because instructors spend less time on more students.
Rotarians noted that Colorado ranks in the bottom half nationally on science and math scores and near the bottom on broadband capability.
So Colorado Rotary clubs are trying to correct that. They’ve already lobbied politicians and public officials, who have signed off and support their efforts by sending letters to the federal government. Now they’re asking the public to pitch in as well to lobby for federal stimulus package money.
Here’s the problem: Letters must be received by June 16. Rotarians have a sample letter, which they encourage people to personalize and send quickly.
Rotarians figure it will cost around $250 million to install fiberoptics so every school district in the state can have access to lower-cost, high-speed Internet.
Private industry has put in around $30 million. Qwest has applied for a $50 million grant for the project in Colorado.
The schools are working through nonprofit EagleNet to get a grant of $150 million from the government, which is what the Rotarians are backing.
Colorado is in the running for the money, Rotarians Grant Wilkins, Klug and Peter Jeschofnig told The Villager, June 11.
Klug said the funds would be used to connect the “middle mile” of the information superhighway. The mainline is already in place, mostly along the railway rights-of-way Phil Anschutz bought when he bought a huge chunk of the nation’s railroads.
The “final mile” is the link to homes, businesses, museums, which is easily accessed, Klug said.
The problem area is that “middle mile,” which connects to schools.
The money would be used to install fiberoptic lines to those schools.
A bundle of paired copper wires can carry 300 signals. A bundle of fiberoptics – about one-fifth the size – can carry 16 million.
The schools can link with museums, libraries – you name it.
The federal government set aside $7.2 billion for broadband expansion. Round 1 of applications and grants came and went. Colorado received $3.7 million, mainly because residents were unaware of the need, Klug said.
The race is on for the remaining funds.
“Without the middle mile, we’re a wasteland,” Klug said. “The whole point of this is to get people energized.”
Here is a copy of a draft letter Rotarians are asking residents to send to Washington in hopes of getting stimulus money to upgrade Internet capabilities for Colorado students. Rotarians are asking people to personalize the letter, which is due in Washington June 16.
The feds want letters sent by snail mail.
June ___, 2010
The Honorable Larry Strickling
Assistant Secretary of Commerce
Administrator – National Telecommunications and Information Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20230
Re: National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program OMB Control Number 0660-0031 Comprehensive Community Infrastructure Grant Application – March 26, 2010
Colorado Community Anchors Broadband Consortium
Dear Assistant Secretary Strickling:
I am very pleased to submit this letter in support of the Colorado Community Anchors Broadband Consortium Grant Application
As the Application details, the Colorado Community Anchors Broadband Consortium (CCABC) has defined and developed a much needed plan to build, upgrade, extend and deliver high-speed broadband Internet connectivity to Community Anchor locations throughout Colorado. The project will enable delivery of broadband Internet services such as:
• High-definition video/audio distance learning
• Adult education and training opportunities including access to information, research, and online and distance learning
• Health care oriented professional development
• Medical services from urban health care programs
• Broadband services to homes by private sector partner broadband service providers
• Business broadband services by private sector partner broadband service providers
The broadband Internet network contemplated by the Application provides the critical connectivity to the many remote communities in Colorado that are either not served or underserved to one degree or another. We believe that the CCABC plan’s potential contribution to our organization, and to education statewide and many other potential uses, many of which cannot even be foreseen today, is profound indeed.
The Application provides a strategic approach to statewide infrastructure. One application working with all parts of the state to maximize resources, leverage all existing infrastructure and provide economies of scale for small and rural areas to improve long term viability. The CCABC Project will initially provide broadband Internet service to 178 school districts, 26 libraries, 12 BOCES, 15 community colleges, and 3 higher educational entities, and allow for open access to local private Middle and Last Mile broadband service providers for distribution to their residential and business customers. Moreover, the CCABC will expand its offering to other community anchor institutions, which could include local and county government administration, health and human services and first responder/public safety entities, municipal entities, non-profit services organizations, private nonprofit foundations and housing agencies.
We believe that the CCABC plan and the application have been developed in the true spirit of the requirements for funding under the BTOP Grant program. We respectfully request your support for the Grant funding requested to assist in the implementation of our statewide broadband Community Anchor network.
Sincerely,
(Sign your name)
Steps for sending the Support Letter
Don’t make the communication look like a form letter. So write to match your items or interest or importance.
Include anecdotal information that demonstrates how this project will impact your organization. Examples of items that will score points in the application include:
• Project meets needs or demands for substantially upgraded service
• Benefits for incorporating public/private partnerships
• Project provides for economic growth (especially in distressed areas)
• Provide service to community colleges and public safety entities
• Print the support letter on your letterhead.
