Even in 2014 many parts of Colorado are still not connected to the Internet and if they are it鈥檚 not at high speeds. A package of bills to reform and update Colorado鈥檚 telecommunications industry has cleared its first committee at the state capitol.
Similar proposals have failed in the past, but now there鈥檚 more momentum and strong backing from the Governor鈥檚 office. Supporters say the flagship measure would redirect some of the money currently used to pay for high cost land lines into building broadband in underserved areas.
鈥淲e invented Internet - the United States invented Internet - and right now we鈥檙e ranked in the middle of the developing nations,鈥� said Mike Brazell, a county commissioner in Park County.
鈥淐olorado right now sits in the middle of the states," said Brazell. "the question is not whether we鈥檒l flourish when we develop broadband but whether we can survive without it.鈥�
People from the eastern plains testified that businesses struggle to operate and the lack of broadband hampers farmers and ranchers who want to use the latest advancements in technology.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not the answer to all our problems but it will help and is a step in the right direction,鈥� said Yuma county commissioner Robyn Wylie.
"We invented Internet - the United States invented Internet - and right now we're ranked in the middle of the developing nations."
Another proposal would deregulate IP systems such as VOIP. Erik Mitisik, the CEO of the Colorado Technology Association says it will help build the state鈥檚 reputation as a technology hub.
鈥淭he perception of us being a state that is not only accommodating from a business climate and a business perspective to allow our technology companies to grow and thrive,鈥� said Mitisik. "But most importantly we want the perception of our state being a friendly place and a friendly climate to be operating a business in to be the reality."
Others aren鈥檛 on board with the proposed changes.
鈥淭here is a situation now where we don鈥檛 need to do anything. Competition is thriving in Colorado,鈥� said William Levis, a volunteer legislative advocate for the American Association of Retired People.
He opposes deregulation and worries resources will be taken from preserving vital landline services.
Patricia Yaeger with the Cross Disabilities Coalition also testified against the bills. She鈥檚 hearing impaired and doesn鈥檛 support shifting any money from landlines to broadband.
鈥淚f you take that money away and put it into broadband, what is going to make the telephone companies maintain those vital landlines, for people like me who are hearing impaired?鈥� asked Yaeger. 鈥淔or seniors and poor people who really need the landline?
"How will we do alerts to those people? In an emergency an alert is the first defense."
The argument that it鈥檚 an either or proposition wasn't convincing to Representative Tracy Kraft Tharp (D-Arvada).
鈥淚鈥檓 really, truly, honestly, trying to understand how we鈥檙e going to lose landline service through this,鈥� she said.
Lawmakers overwhelmingly voted to pass the package of measures, they either sailed through anonymously or with one dissenting vote. The Governor鈥檚 office has also said telecom reform is a priority. All but one proposal now head to other house committees before going to the full floor for further debate.
