The line passes through Region 9 and provides an alternative to US West's infrastructure. The MNT will be rolled out across Colorado over the next three years. The other three will join them in the second and third years. The government offices, schools and other organizations in the region that have signed on for services through Beanpole have drawn up a long list of plans for the broadband services. Several schools want to implement distance learning, Morlan said.
Hospitals are interested in telemedicine and telesurgery.
Local officials hope videoconferencing can replace costly trips to attend meetings in the state capital, he said. In Cortez, one item on the wish list is a faster response when local police tap into the FBI's National Crime Information Center database, said Rick Smith, general services director for the city. But the highest priority is to attract new business. Across the State Colorado's Beanpole program is a pilot project. So far, the state Legislature has not taken any action to allocate those funds, she added.