Many areas in North Routt are lacking reliable, high-speed broadband. The only two providers that offer service beyond Seedhouse Road are CenturyLink and HughesNet. Neither of these companies plan to expand service to North Routt fast enough to meet local needs and demand.

There is a tower owned by the Forest Service on Farwell Mountain. ZIRKEL Wireless made an inquiry with the Forest Service regarding the possibility of placing some equipment on the tower for broadband expansion. Here is the response we were given:

"The existing site is designated for administrative use only, established for public safety and houses the USFS, Routt County and Colorado State Patrol equipment." Furthermore, "to allow commercial use, it will take time for planning and with no other commercial sites on the Forest in the area, would most likely need to go through a competitive prospectus."

Now that SB 05-152 has been repealed by Routt County Citizens, ZIRKEL Wireless feels that the time is now for Routt County and the Northwest Colorado Broadband Cooperative to petition the Forest Service to allow for commercial broadband use on their towers. The recent DOLA grants that the County and NCB have obtained prove that there is public funding available to help promote this cause.

By signing this petition you declare the following:

• I need fast, reliable Internet service NOW as opposed to 1-5 years from now.
• It is my opinion that our County and NCB need to prioritize working with the Forest Service to reclassify their tower on Farwell Mountain to allow for Commercial Broadband use.
• I feel that changes should be made at the appropriate local, state and federal levels to ensure broadband access is rolled out in a fair and equitable manner.
• Based on ZIRKEL Wireless's long-standing local reputation within Routt County, I would like them to serve my family's Internet needs.

Please include your name, address, phone number, and some brief remarks in the comments section.