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Community Outreach Update
March 2012
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Message from the CEO
As EAGLE-Net moves into spring, plans continue for our network peering ring to go live in mid-April. This is an exciting time because the peering ring is essentially the heart of the EAGLE-Net network, creating a redundant transport pathway for our Internet and other broadband services to flow. This is all possible with the use of fiber optic technology. As we know this may be a new concept to some, we wanted to take a moment to discuss.
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Photo courtesy of Draka
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Fiber optics are strands of glass, about the diameter of a human hair, that are used to transmit information in the form of light signals. To transmit light effectively, fiber optic cable is manufactured to contain glass of the highest purity. By limiting signal loss and providing vast increases in bandwidth to traditional copper cabling, fiber optic technology has helped to transform the Information Age and create the 'information superhighway'.
As stated by the company Corning Optical Fiber, "Optical fiber technology has removed barriers of distance, time, and location, closing cultural gaps and opening global markets. Through its superior transmission quality, higher capacity, and rugged durability, optical fiber has created a communications pipeline that enables the world to change a village and a village to change the world."
We know that you may have questions regarding fiber optic technology, so here are a few helpful links:
We thank you for your passion and support of the EAGLE-Net project. Feel free to contact us at any time and please follow our progress via our website.
Thank you,
Dr. Randy Zila
CEO
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Progress Report
As mentioned earlier in this update, we continue to move towards bringing our network peering ring live in mid-April. This activity allows us to complete designs, procurements, construction, and connectivity to the 234 community anchor institutions listed in the grant. As these activities progress, they will be reflected in updated network maps and build schedules on the EAGLE-Net website.
Updated Network Map!
Our online network map will be updated monthly throughout our project. Updates to the current online map include:
What is a design-build construction process?
For the network construction portion of the project, EAGLE-Net is utilizing a design-build construction process. In the typical design-build process, there is one entity (design builder) that provides the architectural/engineering and construction services. While our process is slightly different due to federal guidelines and requirements related to this grant, the design-build process provides several advantages to EAGLE-Net including:
- Allows us to start construction earlier by overlapping the design phase and the construction phase of the project
- We can modify the network design as opportunities present themselves through our federally required procurement processes
- Provides the ability for multiple activities to be managed simultaneously across the State which will reduce our delivery schedule
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Community Outreach
EAGLE-Net is continuing to increase its public relations, brand awareness and business development through community outreach efforts. Some of the efforts put forth in February include:
EAGLE-Net hosted two visits from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in February. Larry Strickling, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communication and Information, and Director Anthony Wilhelm, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) both stopped by the Broomfield office to receive updates on the status of the EAGLE-Net project and plans for sustainability. The NTIA was pleased with the progress being made towards launching the network this spring and the business model being established for sustainability.
EAGLE-Net began a government roadshow in February to meet with various state and federal officials to provide an overview of the EAGLE-Net BTOP project and business model. Thus far, meetings have been held with both Senator Mark Udall and Senator Michael Bennet's Denver staff, various congressional offices, and a few State Senators. Governor Hickenlooper also received an update on the project and was briefed by EAGLE-Net management before he traveled to Washington D.C.
Feedback on the roadshow has been positive, and meetings continue to be scheduled in March and April. Going forward, the roadshow will also extend to major state agencies and government organizations to expand the message into local communities.
New Website!
Additions continue to be made to the new EAGLE-Net Alliance website, including detailed information about the BTOP grant and EAGLE-Net's BTOP progress. A page was specifically created for Colorado Citizens to better outline the BTOP grant and EAGLE-Net's mission. Please continue to check the website as more pages and information will be made available.
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Open Requests
EAGLE-Net continues to work with partners and vendors to complete the BTOP grant project. Recent requests included:
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Stories from the Road
As the EAGLE-Net network continues to grow and evolve, we are reaching out to each community and school district across the state to bring affordable broadband services and carrier quality customer service to each. The Business Development team has traveled to all corners of the state and everywhere in between updating community anchor institutions (CAIs) on the services that EAGLE-Net Alliance offers. The team has met with school districts, community colleges, institutions of higher education, BOCES, town managers, city IT and IS managers, county commissioners, county managers, and multiple state and federal agencies.
While the team has indeed been busy traveling the state, they have made time to solidify the broadband services and open access connectivity that will be offered through the EAGLE-Net Alliance network beginning in the second quarter of 2012.
Currently, the Business Development team is in the process of hiring Regional Community Representatives. These individuals will be based in the North Central/Northwest region and the Southwest region of the state, and will continue EAGLE-Net's community outreach education, planning and information gathering process with communities in advance of and during CAI market launches. Additionally, these individuals will also coordinate with regional agents being enlisted to support EAGLE-Net in the delivery of services to grant and non-grant identified CAIs in the coming months as our network grows.
To speak with a member of the business development team, please contact:
Chip White, Executive V.P. of Business Development
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The Capacity Building - Distance Learning Grant Project
The Governor's Office of Information Technology is supporting innovation in statewide resource sharing for education. The 'Capacity Building - Distance Learning Grant Project' is part of Colorado's ARRA-funded Broadband Data Development program. The project is intended to provide centralized coordination and increased course offering capacity to P-20 (pre-school to post-secondary/higher education) interactive video distance learning sites and content providers statewide.
The project will equip up to 10 new interactive video distance learning sites in Colorado school districts in the Summer of 2012. To apply, fill out the application and return it (via email) by 5pm, April 12, 2012. The grant project includes funding for training and professional development in the use of this equipment. For more information please contact:  Jerry McCarthy Distance Learning Project Manager Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT) |
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EAGLE-Net in the News!
Take a look at the news coverage EAGLE-Net has been receiving over the past couple of months:
- Fort Morgan Times - 2/03/2012
- Fierce Telecom - 1/23/2012
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