Tri-State signs fiber use agreement with EAGLE-Net

Tri-State and EAGLE-Net Alliance (EAGLE-Net) recently announced the signing of an indefeasible right of use (IRU) agreement which will enable EAGLE-Net to fulfill part of the requirements set forth by the $100.6 million Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant that was awarded in September 2010.

The 20-year agreement will enable EAGLE-Net to expand its network capabilities across the Western Slope of Colorado with the use of 412 route miles of fiber connecting locations from Grand Junction to Durango along with other locations including Meeker, Rangely, Craig and Rifle, Colo. The IRU will allow EAGLE-Net to use Tri-State's fiber optic cable to expand EAGLE-Net's broadband network into the Western Slope.

The EAGLE-Net (Educational Access Gateway Learning Environment Network) Alliance (EAGLE-Net) is an intergovernmental entity which operates a Colorado cost-sharing consortium that provides a fully collaborative and secure high-speed broadband network. EAGLE-Net offers a carrier quality broadband network that provides commodity Internet and advanced education and research networks to Colorado school districts and other community anchor institutions.

"This project will greatly increase the bandwidth available to our member co-ops' communities along the Western Slope, including improved access to Internet and voice services for many rural educational facilities," said Jeff Selman, senior manager of transmission systems support at Tri-State. "Our hope is that the EAGLE-Net project will stimulate sustained economic development in the area as well, and allow students to find quality jobs in their hometown communities. EAGLE-Net will provide the broadband foundation for the long-term sustainability of our members and their consumers."

"This agreement is an example of how EAGLE-Net will work together with other providers across the state to provide high-speed broadband services to schools, libraries and other community anchor institutions. As a part of the BTOP grant, EAGLE-Net is able to enter into IRU agreements with providers and operators of fiber networks who can offer infrastructure that can be capitalized under the terms of the grant," according to Denise Shorey-Atkinson, president of EAGLE-Net Alliance.

Updated: October 5, 2011