February 23, 2010
Mr. David A. Cleveland
Executive Director
East Texas Council of Governments
3800 Stone Road
Kilgore, TX 75662
RE: Letter of support for ETCOG broadband initiative
Dear Mr. Cleveland:
I support the East Texas Council of Governments’ March 26, 2010 application for broadband initiatives funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. I am aware that ETCOG seeks to provide the “middle mile” for high speed connectivity to remote, unserved and underserved areas of the fourteen county region. Broadband infrastructure capacity, connectivity and services at rural health clinics, in ambulances, public computer centers, emergency facilities, libraries, rural workforce development offices, community centers and senior centers will be more accessible with the award of this grant.
Rural and underserved citizens in East Texas will gain faster and less expensive access to electronic news, weather, medical, and emergency services information. Having access to weather and traffic information during severe weather events will help safeguard lives. Ambulances with mobile data capability will do the same. Students will be better prepared for the job market with access to the internet. New markets will be opened up to our citizens for the exchange of goods and information. Therefore, businesses will be in better positions to compete for jobs globally. Local Governments and schools who decide to use this service will see reduced costs, significantly more network capacity and increased functionality.
Short and long term job growth will be stimulated. Fiber installation jobs in the short term and new economic development opportunities for long term growth can be realized when the regional fiber and wireless network is operational. Generally, the quality of life in East Texas' remote, unserved and underserved areas will be enhanced as a result of the improved services the infrastructure provided by this grant will make possible.
I support the application for funding identified through the National Telecommunications Infrastructure Administration (NTIA). Upon approval, I believe that <economic development, city, county or school, business> will be interested in obtaining services through ETCOG’s network. ETCOG enjoys more than 30 years history of successful implementation of regional initiatives. This project will be a prominent achievement for the organization when the project is funded.
Sincerely,
<economic development, city, county business or school official>