Background Info

OPERATION: LINK UP

Bridging the Last 16 Miles of the Fiber Divide In Colorado

Background Info & Links

QUICK GUIDE TO DOCUMENTS & INFO ON THE MNT PROJECT:

Below are links to the most important public documents and official reports on the state-wide MNT Network, 2003 MNT Completion Report and subsequent status reports. Here you’ll find all the significant details of the state-wide MNT network and how Qwest did not complete the 16 miles fiber build to Silverton and San Juan County. The project documents are listed by date to make following the project and timelines easier.

CLICK HERE FOR THE DOCUMENTS & DOWNLOAD PAGE

Selected Documents:

1. 2009 Legal Brief: by San Juan County Attorney—Paul Sunderland

LEGAL BRIEF

A succinct presentation of the facts concerning Qwest’s breech of the 2000 MNT contract to complete the MNT fiber optic link to Silverton, Colorado and San Juan County.

2. Official press release announcing 37 million Qwest contract:

April 17, 2000. DENVER – Governor Bill Owens announced today at a news conference that the State of Colorado has awarded U S WEST a $37 million, ten-year contract to build a digital voice, video and data network that will provide high-speed links to state offices and schools in all 64 counties across Colorado..

"This new statewide network will help Colorado bridge the digital divide between rural and urban communities," said Gov. Owens. "It will be a key tool in helping to foster economic development and accelerate Colorado’s high-tech growth."

Governor Bill Owens 2000 MTN Press Release

Nine years later, Silverton, the county seat of San Juan County is still approximately 16 miles on the other side of the fiber optic divide.

3. "MNT Completion Report of September 2003"

This is the best report to read for a quick understanding of MNT and what was expected with the completion of the project, especially the Executive Summary and other noted sections.

a. The Executive Summary, 1^st page, 2nd paragraph clearly states “Qwest agreed

to build a fiber-optic network spanning every county seat in the state.”

b. Note the map on page 21 “Achievements” shows a completed link from

Durango to Silverton which was never built. Other official MNT maps show a Ouray to Silverton connection which is also fictional.

c. “Achievements and Future Possibilities, pg. 22, claims that “all counties have

been reached with a fiber optic network.” This statement is completely false.

d. Page 23-24 shows San Juan County being reached in Phase 3, with an

asterisked entry on progress. Footnote, that right-of-way issues with a local

power utility has delayed the completion of the fiber optic line 16 miles south of

Silverton. Also mentions increasing the microwave capacity to Silverton from 45

to 200 megabits as a temporary remedy. Six years has passed since this report and still no fiber optics in Silverton.

NOTE: Many MNT documents are no longer available on-line through the State of Colorado, Dept of IT. This link will download a pdf of the entire “MNT Completion Report.” A 2 page summary report is also available on the links and document page.

2003 MNT Completion Report

The installation of fiber infrastructure stopped 16 miles short of Silverton when Qwest decided to lower their contract costs after promising the State of Colorado they would finish the work.

4. Minutes from the last meeting of the Governor's MNT Task Force.

Clearly the MNT Task Force members intended the fiber optic link to Silverton to be completed. Read the first few paragraphs of the minutes. In previous meetings, concerns were voiced at the delay in the fiber run to Silverton and completion of the Silverton ANAP by the June 2004 deadline.

LAST MEETING MINUTES

The Governors Task Force was completely justified in their concerns about Qwest finishing the Silverton fiber build — it was never completed.

5. Nov 3, 2003, Qwest ANAP Status Report.

This report shows the continuing delay in Qwest’s completion of the last 16 miles of the Silverton link. They list issues with landowners along the right-a-way and needed BLM and Forest Service permits. Right-of-way issues are usually handled routinely by Qwest.

This report also notes the ordering of equipment to temporarily upgrade the existing microwave radio system for more bandwidth.

QWEST NOVEMBER 2003 ANAP STATUS REPORT

This “transient” situation will be permanent if not challenged. Somehow right-of-way issues were worked out to connect all the other Colorado counties by fiber backbone. After the project officially closed — Qwest decided to not run Silverton’s 16 miles of fiber to increase their profit for the 2000 MNT contract.

Please advise us of any other pertinent articles or documents related to the MNT Project so we can link them here.