Project Overview
Ark-Tex Council of Governments (ATCOG) and the East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) have agreed to partner in the development of coordinated National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Round 2 Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) Grant application submissions. They desire a coordinated effort between the two regions in the development of a strategy to provide broadband infrastructure in the rural counties within these areas because the areas are un-served or underserved.
ATCOG’s region is comprised of 10 counties. ETCOG’s region consists of 14 counties. This coordinated, multi-region, broadband expansion project will cover a total of 24 counties serving the north east portion of Texas, adjacent to the Oklahoma and Arkansas borders (and into Miller County Arkansas), and along the Louisiana border to the northern border of Deep East Texas Council of Governments.
Who: Ark-TX Council of Governments and East Texas Council of Governments
What: Broadband Infrastructure/Connectivity Initiative
When: The effort officially started on February 10th, 2010 and the submission deadline is March 26th, 2010(previously March 15th). By rule, a minimum of sixty six percent (66%) of the project will have to be completed within two years of the grant approval date and one hundred percent (100%) of the project must be complete within three years of the grant approval date. Assuming the six month approval interval of September 30th 2010, the ‘projected’ three year date is placed at December 15th, 2013 for 100% project completion. Important: There is strong admonition for a plan to be 100% complete in two years. This approach will garner additional “brownie points.” This would set the 100% completion date at September 2012.
Why: To bring broadband connectivity and services to the remote, rural, un-served and underserved portions of the subject areas. This broadband project is being undertaken to spur service(s) competition, to spur small/local business job creation, to generate greater use of E-commerce, for national and global trading enterprises and enhanced employment opportunities for the local residents and citizens of the ETCOG and ATCOG areas. We want to mitigate further erosion of existing jobs and businesses (provide real-life examples for application).
Where: ETCOG and ATCOG service areas. See maps below
How: By the application process of stimulus grant funding, grass root support, education and higher education support, local/city/county/regional/state governmental support, conceptual network engineering, research, execution, etc. The project will build upon, upgrade, and utilize components of the Northeast Texas Network (NETnet) and the Lonestar Education and Research Network (LEARN).
For Benefit of Whom: All citizens of the subject areas (cities, counties) of the ETCOG and ATCOG COG areas – to include the named border states and the visitors/patrons of all stated areas.
For What Benefit: Economic development, higher education, improved healthcare, local city, county and regional governmental entities, public safety, emergency communications