It is apparent that the La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) territory, primarily La Plata and Archuleta counties, is very poorly served by broadband providers. High-quality broadband access has become as vital as access to electricity. It is also clear that the incumbent broadband providers have little incentive or appetite for providing high quality broadband internet access to underserved rural areas of LPEA’s territory.

Other Rural Electric Coops across Colorado are successfully bringing high-quality broadband access to their members. For example, Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA) members faced similar issues, but they approached the DMEA Board of Directors and insisted that DMEA take the lead in providing high quality broadband. DMEA formed the Elevate subsidiary which is now providing very high quality broadband access in parts of the DMEA service territory while gradually expanding to cover the entire service territory. This is much the same process that was used to bring electricity to rural areas in the early 20th century.

We therefore ask the LPEA Board of Directors to take a strong lead in bringing broadband to LPEA's service territory. With DMEA Elevate and other Colorado Rural Electric Cooperatives successful broadband efforts as examples of how to proceed, LPEA can move forward to make a huge difference for the people of La Plata and Archuleta counties.

Please sign this petition ONLY if you are an LPEA member. If you are responsible for a business and your business is an LPEA member, please enter the name of the business. If you have both individual and business service from LPEA, you may sign the petition twice, once for yourself and once for the business.