DATE:                   January 26, 2009   

 

TO:                        CWC Board Members & Interested Parties

 

FROM:                 Clark Johnson, President               

 

SUBJECT:            CWC Update & Path Forward 2009

 

The Board of Directors of Colorado Wireless Communities (CWC) has determined that the original vision and goals of the organization are not attainable at this time through the chosen business model. Further, the Board is not aware of a financially feasible, technically achievable, or politically viable alternative worth pursuing in the near future. It is for this reason that, barring dramatic change, the Board has chosen not to collect dues from its membership in 2009. However, the Board is in unanimous agreement that the CWC should continue to exist as an entity and to maintain the status of the Intergovernmental Agreement within which it was created.

 

The members of the CWC have not achieved the original goals of the organization; however, based on hard work and dedication over the past two and a half years, the members of the CWC have created a wholly unique foundation for regional technology and communications cooperation. The Board recognizes the value this cooperation has brought to individual communities and the potential it holds for wider cooperative efforts in technology and communications.

 

The coming months will be a time for members to reflect and work together on changing and adapting the vision and goals of the organization to better reflect the opportunities in technology and communications that may exist for our partnership. It is not the intent of the CWC to create new goals for the purpose of simply continuing the organization, but rather, it is the intent of the CWC to reexamine how best to take advantage of opportunities that may exist for the benefit of all ten member communities.

 

Examples of potential future efforts of the CWC could include:

-         Municipal WiFi in a new business model (such as government use or hotspots)

-         WiMax (partnering with a provider of regional coverage and government services)

-         Public Safety communications

-         Shared technology services

-         Wireless communications contract negotiations/shared pricing (cell phone and other handheld wireless devices)

-         Joint Grant Funding related to any of the above, digital inclusion, or other services.

This list is only illustrative.

 

-         Original Vision of the CWC: “Communities partnering to enable comprehensive low cost wireless broadband for residents, businesses, institutions, and visitors.”

-         Original Goals of the CWC: “Efficient, effective government services; Economic development; Digital inclusion; Broadband competition.”

 

Nearly two years ago, the ten communities of the CWC were formally bound by IGA with the common goal of creating a regional wireless broadband network. The vision for this goal came from individual community feasibility studies, new advances in wireless technology, and the support of elected officials. Out of this work came a Request for Proposals based on a specific business model. The business model was based on a privately built, owned, and operated network supported by user subscription. The reasons the CWC pursued this model included: 

-         minimal financial risk to communities;

-         Desire to improve the competitive environment;

-         Opportunity to achieve the stated goals of the network;

-         Avoiding complications of restrictive state law;

-         And achievability based on market conditions.

 

Nearly 18 months ago a partner was selected. To date, the partner has not been able to obtain the private funding necessary to build a network. At this time the CWC does not have any obligation to continue to work with that partner. In addition, market conditions preclude the CWC from releasing another RFP at this time.