© 2023
kunc-header-1440x90.png
NPR for Northern Colorado
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations

EAGLE-Net Gets Go-Ahead To Resume Rural Broadband Project

Fiber optic cable installation Liz West cc flickr.jpg
Liz West
/
Creative Commons/Flickr

After being on hold for months, a three-year project funded with $100 million in federal stimulus money is back on track.

The EAGLE-Net project aims to connect more than 170 rural Colorado communities with high-speed Internet. 

The project has drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers, including 4th Congressional District Rep. Cory Gardner, who says other rural telecom companies felt EAGLE-Net was competing with their existing business.

The federal government suspended EAGLE-Net's grant in December, citing environmental issues with the project's current routes and problems with permits and consultations with other agencies. 

The project was initially scheduled to be completed in August of 2013. According to the Denver Post, EAGLE-Net will need an additional year and $10 to $15 million in private financing to finish its network. 

As host of KUNC's Colorado Edition, I work closely with our producers and reporters to bring context and diverse perspectives to the important issues of the day. And because life is best when it's a balance of work and play, I love finding stories that highlight culture, music, the outdoors, and anything that makes Colorado such a great place to live.
Related Content