Jointly-Designed High-Speed Internet Project on the Drawing Board Seeking Chaffee BoCC Letter of Support
As the deadline for the first round of federal broadband grant applications nears, Aristata Communications announced it will be partnering with Visionary Broadband to submit a competitive application for Capital Projects Fund (CPF) grant funding that serves the needs of this rural region for lasting impact.
It presented the concept during the Chaffee Board of County Commissioners meeting earlier this week, saying that once the concept was fully-formed, the partnership would seek a letter of support from the Chaffee BoCC for its grant application work.
Like Aristata Communications, Visionary Broadband is a rural Internet provider that values resilience and bringing connectivity to the West. Visionary’s extensive experience and resources will greatly enhance Aristata’s deployment of next-generation broadband throughout Chaffee County.
From left to right: County Commissioner Keith Baker, Executive Director Colorado Broadband Office Brandy Reitter, Aristata Communications CEO Carlin Walsh, and Chaffee County EDC Executive Director Jake Rishavy have a conversation about upcoming broadband funding opportunities in Colorado. Photo by Carly Winchell.
The announcement was made at this week’s Chaffee County Commission meeting where Brian Shepherd, the former director for the Colorado Broadband Office (CBO) and Visionary’s Vice President of Grant Engagement, joined Aristata Communications’ CEO Carlin Walsh to share news of the partnership along with a brief overview of the jointly designed project. In-depth details will be presented at the next Commission meeting where Visionary and Aristata will be seeking a letter of support to compete at the state level later this month.
“As we work to create a strong business case for our grant application that will ultimately bring high-speed Internet connectivity to more people in our rural region, we are proud to partner with Visionary Broadband,” said Walsh. “Together we will bring forth a thoughtfully designed project that will leverage existing infrastructure, avoid overbuilding in our area, result in more Internet availability, and avoid obligating taxpayers’ dollars from the county. This is an exciting partnership and a win-win for everyone.”
Shepherd shared similar sentiments.
“We are pleased to partner with Aristata Communications, the only locally owned and operated provider. As we prepare our submission, we know the once-in-a-lifetime influx of broadband dollars across the nation has created a highly competitive atmosphere for all Internet providers,” said Shepherd.
“Partnerships will only help make grant applications stronger and we are excited to partner with a company whose values align with ours to achieve the end goal—connecting more users to high-speed Internet in rural Colorado,” he concluded.
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