The Consumer Counsel for Colorado, Mr. Bill Levis, will make a brief presentation and answer questions in two meetings that will be held in Chaffee County on December 7, 2011. The Colorado Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) is a division within the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). It represents residential, small business and agricultural utility consumers as a class in electric, natural gas, and telephone proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The Office promotes affordable, high quality, and reliable service.
The Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation is hosting the meetings as part of its outreach and education effort related to the Broadband Project. The Corporation is seeking solutions which will provide affordable, abundant, and broadband to Chaffee County residents. Having adequate broadband in the rural areas of Colorado is a core objective of Governor Hickenlooper and is included in the Colorado BluePrint, a bottom up economic development strategy for the State. The meetings will be held in Salida at the City Council Chambers from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Buena Vista at the Public Library.
Broadband is defined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as certain speeds (4 mg download, and 1 mg upload) to connect to the Internet. The Corporation has established Chaffee Connect to educate the community about broadband. The Corporation helped form a Local Technology Planning Team which consists of community representatives a few months ago to provide input, help with outreach, and work on solutions.
Chaffee County is sharing its work and experience with representatives from Custer, Fremont, Lake, and Park counties to provide adequate broadband in Central Colorado. More information about Chaffee Connect can be found at the Corporations web site, info@chaffeecountyedc.com. Those interested in attending can call 719-239-2018 or 719-207-0801 or RSVP to the website address.