At the turn of the 21st Century, the local economy was handcuffed by limited digital communication capabilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cCortez was on the verge of dying before it opted to take destiny into its own hands,\u201d said City of Cortez general services director Rick Smith.<\/p>\n
Starting in 1999, municipal leaders launched efforts to install fiber optic cables to its anchor institutions, such as government buildings, schools and hospital. Today, additional fiber optic cables are being fitted along Main Street, delivering extra bandwidth to more than 200 businesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust because we live here in rural Cortez, there\u2019s no reason why we shouldn\u2019t have access to affordable broadband like they do in metro areas such as Denver,\u201d Smith said. \u201cIt\u2019s a necessity in today\u2019s digital age.\u201d<\/p>\n
That forward-thinking insight has positioned Cortez as a broadband leader across both the state and region, Smith said. He fields calls from cities and towns from all around asking how the city is implementing its digital infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Long, thin strands of pure glass arranged in bundles called fiber optics, the cables transmit communications via light signals over long distances. Compared to conventional copper wire, optical fibers are cheaper and more efficient; transmit vaster, clearer digital communications without loss of signal; and are also safer, lighter and smaller.<\/p>\n
\u201cInstalling fiber optics is all about enhancing economic development,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n
Prior to fiber optic accessibility, the Unlimited Learning Center, for example, had 10 megabits of Internet capacity at a cost of $1,200 per month. Today, the educational outreach complex receives 50 megabits of data at half the monthly price.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrior to our fiber optics, we only had a handful of distance learning courses,\u201d said executive director Ann Miller. \u201cNow we have almost 45 courses.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to increased course offerings, Miller explained the added bandwidth has also improved security, quality and reliability of services.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we had cable, our broadcasts were routinely interrupted,\u201d she said. \u201cWe don\u2019t have any hitches today.\u201d<\/p>\n
From a government perspective, fiber optics has also modernized the city\u2019s judicial system. Now able to operate a video arraignment system for inmates, fiber optic cables have helped improved public safety, according to city attorney Mike Green.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince officers don\u2019t have to guard and transport inmates, we\u2019ve been able to put more policemen on the streets,\u201d Green said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe effort has also saved inmate transportation costs and increased convenience for court officials,\u201d he continued. \u201cFiber optics has been a huge benefit for municipal court operations.\u201d<\/p>\n
The SW Colorado Council of Governments has played a major role in enhancing the city\u2019s broadband capabilities. The organization recently announced it\u2019s completing a three-year $4 million project to construct the Southwest Colorado Access Network (SCAN). The city received $1 million of the grant funding to install the fiber optic cables along Main Street.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe infrastructure improvements not only offer businesses higher bandwidth capacity at lower costs, but they also lower the cost barriers for private telecom companies to enter into the market,\u201d said Region 9 Economic Development District executive director Ed Morlan.<\/p>\n
The SCAN project is improving fiber optics across Montezuma County, including government buildings in Dove Creek, Dolores and Mancos. Archuleta, Dolores, LaPlata and San Juan counties are also benefiting, Morlan added.<\/p>\n
Looking forward, the city anticipates expanding its digital framework even more. In fiscal year 2014, Smith is hopeful to secure an additional $1 million grant the city would match for a total of $2 million. Those funds would then be used to complete the next phase of installation to connect businesses along Broadway with fiber optic capabilities. The final piece of the puzzle is expanding the network into residential areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would probably take more than $10 million to finish out the entire city,\u201d Smith predicted. \u201cThat could take at least five years, but we have a roadmap. We have a plan.\u201d<\/p>\n