HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 11/12/2024 - Memorandum from Chad Crager re Connexion Grant UpdateFort Collins Connexion Broadband Services
222 Laporte Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80521
970.207.7870
fcconnexion.com
MEMORANDUM
Date: November 5, 2024
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
Through: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
From: Chad Crager, Connexion Executive Director
Subject: Connexion Grant Update
Bottom Line
The purpose of the memo is to provide City Council with an update on Connexion grants. Earlier this
year, Connexion was awarded four grants for Connexion service into rural Larimer County totaling
$10.2M. These areas required Connexion fiber attaching to existing Poudre Valley Regional Electric
(PVREA) power poles to reach rural residents. Further evaluation found that the costs to upgrade
existing PVREA power poles to attach Connexion fiber in these areas to be much higher than
anticipated. Due to this increase, these projects were determined to be infeasible and the Colorado
Broadband Office allowed Connexion to reject the grants without prejudice (no impacts for any future
grant opportunities).
Connexion has submitted a Broadband Equity and Access Deployment (BEAD) grant for areas within
the city limits and Growth Management Area (GMA). Most of the premises in the grant application are
for mobile home parks. Connexion will provide the cash match for premises in the city limits and
Larimer County will provide the cash match for premises in the GMA. We hope to find out if we are
successful with these grants in Q1, 2025.
Connexion will continue to seek, evaluate, and partner on grants where feasible.
Docusign Envelope ID: BAF101D7-95AA-4001-8A3A-722119532C21