Craig Daily Press / Editorial: An important Internet issue

Archive for Wednesday, July 25, 2012

July 25, 2012

Moffat County Commissioner Audrey Danner has taken on the task of trying to improve broadband service in Northwest Colorado. It's not an issue that's going to warrant much attention or many headlines, but it's highly important to improving the community and creating a better environment for businesses. With Danner leaving office in January, it's vital someone step in and address this critical need for better Internet service.

An issue critical to Northwest Colorado in general and Craig and Moffat County specifically has been largely overlooked by most public officials, except one.

Audrey Danner, a Moffat County Commissioner representing District 2, has been the leading voice in our community advocating for enhanced broadband service, a necessity in today's technological age in improving the educational and economic development climates, and the quality of life for residents.

As facilitator of the Northwestern Colorado Local Technology Planning Team, an affiliation of state and local elected officials, business owners, service providers, education representatives and residents in Moffat and Rio Blanco counties, Danner has been coordinating broadband action meetings for months.

Whereas many local elected leaders are bogged down in minutia and lacking long-term vision, Danner deserves credit for recognizing the importance of technology to our community's future.

The idea, she said, is to create an information technology environment in Craig and Moffat County that is reliable, redundant and affordable.

Her words and actions are proactive on this issue.

However, with Danner leaving office in January 2013, the editorial board questions whether the better broadband issue will end before meaningful change has had a chance.

We wonder what commissioner will take the mantle from her, if anyone.

Danner was on to something when she identified broadband as an important platform for our community, and it would be highly regretful should the new composition of the county commission let it slip because no one shared her vision.

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