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What's inside:

• Meet the Executive Director of the Colorado Broadband Office
• Upcoming Events
• Broadband Fund Updates
• Colorado Broadband Data Collection in Progress - Spring 2022
• Kate’s Corner: Updates from the Economic Recovery Officer
• Federal Broadband Updates & Reminders

Meet the Executive Director of the Colorado Broadband Office

Hello - This week, my journey to bring equitable broadband access to all Coloradans begins as the new Executive Director for the Colorado Broadband Office. But I know it can’t be done alone. Your passion and expertise are critical to helping everyone access fast, affordable broadband, driving our beautiful state forward. After nearly 15 years working in local government as an administrative and operational leader in several Colorado communities, I’m excited to partner with you to fulfill the state’s vision to provide equal broadband access for all Coloradans. I look forward to that day when every home, business, school, library and medical center has access to high-speed internet. Stay tuned here and on our website as we build out transparent, collaborative processes to take advantage of the wave of state and federal funding, and I hope to see you soon. -Brandy Read the Feb. 7 press release New Colorado Broadband Office Executive Director Takes the Helm

Upcoming Events

Broadband Deployment Board Meeting

Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 10 a.m.

The Broadband Deployment Board will begin a pre-review of Winter 2022 Grant Cycle applications and conclude the Summer 2021 grant cycle. The agenda will be posted to our website prior to the meeting.

Lunch & Learn:Regional Broadband Partner-Driven Expansion 

Tuesday, Feb. 22 at Noon

We will learn how Roaring Fork Valley partners continue to expand broadband services throughout their region by leveraging existing fiber optic, radio communications and data center resources. New initiatives are underway in Snowmass Village, Basalt and along Highway 82, made possible thanks to regional collaboration and partnerships like the CBO has with Northwest Colorado Council of Governments (NWCCOG) Project THOR.

Presenters from the Roaring Fork Valley include:

• Jeff Krueger – Pitkin County Telecommunications Manager
• Dr. Paul Schultz – City of Aspen IT Director

Broadband Advisory Board Meeting

Tuesday, March 15 at 11 a.m.

Broadband Advisory Board meetings are now being held every other month. The agenda for our March 15 meeting will be shared in next month’s newsletter. Visit the Broadband Advisory Board page on our website to register for upcoming meetings and view recordings and notes from past meetings.

Broadband Fund Updates

The Broadband Fund received 21 applications for consideration in the Winter 2022 Grant Cycle. Copies of these applications can be found on our website. Any member of the public is welcome to submit comments on these applications during a defined 60-day period using this Comment Form. The 60-day comment period for the Winter 2022 Applications began on Sunday, Jan. 16 and will close at 11:59 p.m. MST on Thursday, Mar. 17.

Colorado Broadband Data Collection in Progress - Spring 2022

We have begun our outreach efforts for the Spring 2022 Colorado Broadband Data Collection Cycle! The data submission deadline is March 4. The data we collect during this cycle will be published to the Colorado Broadband Map in April.  

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that participate or intend to participate in any State of Colorado broadband grant funding programs are required to submit data for inclusion in the Colorado Broadband Map. All other ISPs are asked to voluntarily participate in order to increase the accuracy of our maps.

Make sure to visit our website to learn about data submission requirements and how to prepare your data. Prepared data can be submitted by emailing our team at oit_broadbanddata@state.co.us. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions about the data submission process.

Finally, we are excited to welcome two new GIS technicians, Collin Schulte and Adam Nazarian, to the Broadband Data Team. They will be helping process broadband data to support the development and improvement of the Colorado Broadband Map.

Kate’s Corner: Updates from the Economic Recovery Officer

Written by Kate Sneed, State Economic Recovery Officer, OEDIT

The CBO has created a Federal Funding Updates email list. Sign up here to receive Federal Funding updates.

The information presented at the January 21 Broadband Stakeholder Update on the federal broadband dollars and legislation is now available on our website.

Capital Project Fund Updates

Please join CBO for a continuation of CPF listening sessions this month, where we will hear from regional communities on their specific broadband needs.

• Jan. 27 at 11 a.m.- Southern Colorado Presentation  
• Feb. 10 at 11 a.m. - Eastern Plains Register Here
• Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. - I-25 Corridor Register Here
• Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. - Western Slope Register Here

HB21-1289 Updates

This January, OIT requested approval from the Joint Technology Committee to draft a bill to ensure the $35M given to the Broadband Deployment Board is obligated and in compliance with the final rules from the U.S. Department of Treasury. The current statute nested these monies received by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) into the requirements of the existing High Cost Support Mechanism (HCSM) funding and therefore put more stringent criteria on the ARPA funding. In order to grant the $35M ARPA monies following the intent of the federal legislation, the ARPA funding needs to be pulled out of its current location within the HCSM requirements. Michael McReynolds, OIT Legislative Liaison, is taking the lead on this initiative. Please reach out to Michael with questions: michael.mcreynolds@state.co.us

Federal Broadband Updates & Reminders

We continue to monitor federal programs and highlight recent developments in this space. Please visit our website and follow us on Twitter for more updates on federal broadband news.

• FCC Releases Rules to Implement Affordable Connectivity Program | Jan. 21
• Readout of White House Roundtable with Civil Rights Leaders on Equitable Implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law | Jan. 22
• FCC Commits Another $240M in Emergency Connectivity Funding bringing total committed funding $4.4 billion | Jan. 25
• FCC Announces Final Group of COVID-19 Telehealth Program Awards, including 3 awards in Colorado | Jan. 26
• FCC Sixth Auction 904 Ready-to-Authorize Public Notice for Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) | Jan. 28
• Emergency Broadband Benefit enrollment tracker updated: 100,492 Colorado Households Enrolled | Feb. 8

Upcoming Dates & Deadlines

• Applications due Feb. 10 for EDA Good Jobs Challenge
• E-Rate Funding Year 2022: FCC Form 470 Certification Deadline is Feb. 22, application filing window closes on Mar. 22
• Application window for USDA ReConnect Program is through Feb. 22

Upcoming Federal Events

• Feb. 9 and Feb. 23: NTIA to host IIJA Listening Sessions
• Feb. 18: FCC February 2022 Open Commission Meeting
• Feb. 28: FCC’s Technological Advisory Council (TAC) to hold first meeting