The City of Cortezis wrapping up Phase 1 "Fiber to the Business" Phase 1 was funded by a grant made possible through the State of Colorado and the Southwest Colorado Council of Government (SWCOG). The City recently formed the Cortez Community Network Enterprise Fund to handle the operations of the Network. This fund is similar to the water fund and allows revenues generated in the fiber to remain in the fund and expand the system. The network is a Multi-Service Open network that would bring fiber to each home and business that requests service. Much like building roads, the City projectbuilds the fiber network throughout the neighborhoods and business districts in town. The Project is named the "Cortez Community Network". (CCN)
The City has signed up three private organizations to provide services to users. The initial services planned would include; telephone voice services, data (internet), and video (TV). These three services combined are often referred to as "Triple Play." The system could also accomodate other specialized services such as; home and business security, Police and Fire, energy management, online tutoring, schools, and telemedicine. The City does not provide any services - it just provides the digital road for others to use.
The City network currently has over 120,000 linear feet of fiber throughout Cortez. And the first phase project added approximately 60,000 feet to the network. The current system serves City facilities, County facilities, Hospital, Fire District, and School District, and parts of the downtown core business district. Future phases of the project will expand on the current network and grow the outside fiber plant to local homes and business. The City is exploring additional funding to expand the project and implement future phases.