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Pitkin County telecom director details network growth, 1,400 public‑safety radios and budget pressure
Summary
Telecom Director Drew Peterson told the Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners that the county’s telecommunications operation now supports extensive broadcast translators, a fixed‑wireless broadband initiative and statewide interoperable public‑safety radios — but rising operating costs and changing federal grant landscapes threaten planned rebuilds like the Ajax site.
Drew Peterson, Pitkin County’s telecommunications director, told the Board of County Commissioners on April 21 that the county has built a resilient mix of broadcast, backhaul and public‑safety systems but now faces mounting operational and capital pressures.
Peterson said the county manages 21 distinct television channels (via six translator sites and 36 net translator frequencies) and rebroadcasts 13 local radio stations across 41 FM translators. He described those services as public, free and important to residents and visitors who lack reliable mobile data in the valley’s most remote areas.
Peterson also summarized the Pitkin County Broadband Initiative (PCBI). He said voters approved a funding mill levy in 2011 to support last‑mile fixed‑wire broadband and that the effort accelerated in 2018. The county has leveraged public‑private partnerships — naming Path Finder as a network manager — and currently serves nearly 250…
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