Gustavus Broadband Update: CIP Request, Project Management, What's Next

[Nathan Borson]

Capital Improvement Project Request 

The City of Gustavus has submitted a capital request for $70,000 to the Alaska legislature, to complete Phase 2 of the Gustavus broadband project. As discussed in the last update, Phase 2 involves updating the 2012 Gustavus Broadband Plan and engineering the last-mile network. The Gustavus City Council voted to submit the project as the city's top priority, but legislators have already warned not to expect much from the state this year, given the state's budget shortfall. We might not know whether the project is funded until June. If it is, the funds would be available July 1.

Project Management Contract Expired

The City of Gustavus contract with Corvid Computing, to manage the Gustavus broadband project, expired on December 31, 2014. A new contract will be needed to continue moving the broadband project forward. Corvid Computing is formulating a proposal for consideration by the City of Gustavus.

Next Steps

Even though there may not be funding for the engineering, funds remaining in the FY12 state grant for broadband planning, combined with funds from the City of Gustavus, could allow the city to move forward with revising the broadband plan. If the plan demonstrates a viable operation and is acceptable to all stakeholders, the design could be funded with a loan, the same way construction is funded, and repaid from the Connect America Fund. In other words, we are not waiting for funding at this point. The next step is for Corvid Computing to submit a proposal to the GCN Board.

The broadband project web site has been updated with this post. You

can always go there to see the latest news and status:

https://sites.google.com/a/corvid.info/gustavus-broadband-plan/

Nate

Nathan Borson, Co-Owner

Corvid Computing, (former) Project Manager

City of Gustavus Broadband Plan

http://bit.ly/r48JAh

(907) 697-2810