The La Plata County Board of County Commissioners has approved an agreement between La Plata County, Archuleta County, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, La Plata Electric Association, and the Region 10 League for Economic Assistance & Planning to fund a new fiber optic cable between Allison and Pagosa Springs. The cable will run along State Highway 151 and will improve accessibility and connectivity in the region. Under the agreement, the Tribe owns the fibers and will lease them to the other entities for 20 years. Commissioner Matt Salka said all parties came to an agreement that benefits all and that he looks forward to the fiber being installed next year.
Meanwhile, the Colorado Transportation Commission approved a structure for fees that telecommunications firms and local organizations must pay to lay fiber in state highway right-of-way. CDOT leaders argue that developing this program will let broadband firms and economic-development organizations know an exact cost as they begin projects — a one-time permitting fee of five cents per foot of fiber, as well as annual fees of three cents per foot in rural counties and 10 cents per foot in counties with populations of more than 200,000 people. Commissioner Matt Salka testified that the fee will be prohibitively burdensome in counties that have significant road mileage but fewer residents who could divide up the cost of the fee.
