County IT eyes new internet provider, Office 365 migration and county fiber benefits

The county’s IT representative told commissioners the department plans to switch internet providers this summer to lower monthly costs and add redundancy for Cortez-area connectivity.

The IT staff said, “I’m looking at cutting or switching over our internet to another company, probably Mammoth or somebody in July, somewhere in there because I can save a couple hundred dollars a month. And then they have redundant paths, so for us that just means we get more ways of getting out of Cortez.” The office will also begin a migration to Microsoft Office 365 to align with vendor licensing changes and to improve security, the staff said.

IT reported it is compiling costs for camera installations at Annex 1 after thefts and vehicle-siphoning incidents; staff said they will present estimates in the coming weeks and consider capital-project funding. The IT representative also described a public–private partnership: ClearNet Works has been awarded federal CPF funding and will build fiber from Cortez to Mancos and Dolores, with pole attachments coordinated with Empire Electric. County staff said 24 count fibers were set aside for the county, which would enable fiber service to the fairgrounds and other county sites when the build reaches those corridors.

Why it matters: the provider change and Office 365 migration are intended to reduce operating costs and improve security. The ClearNet Works fiber build could provide new connectivity for county facilities and local events such as the fair and rodeo.

No formal county actions were recorded on IT items at the workshop.