This November, Archuleta County electors will have the option to vote on a ballot referendum that, if approved, would exempt the county from a state law limiting the county’s ability to use county-owned fiber for noncounty providers, among other things.
More completely, the exemption would allow the county to “provide cable television services, telecommunications services, and/or advanced services, either directly, or indirectly with public or private sector providers.”
The Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners approved the resolution to place the question on the November ballot at its regular meeting Tuesday.
Archuleta County is one of a growing number of governmental entities throughout the state that are asking to or have successfully exempted themselves from the law via a vote of the people.
According to the resolution, the ballot language will read as follows: “Without increasing taxes, shall Archuleta County, Colorado have the legal ability to provide any or all services currently restricted by Title 29, Article 27, Part 1, of the Colorado Revised Statutes, specifically described as ‘advanced services,’ ‘telecommunications services,’ and ‘cable television services,’ as defined by the statute, including, but not limited to, any new and improved high bandwidth services based on future technologies, utilizing community owned infrastructure including but not limited to any existing fiber network, either directly, or indirectly with public or private sector service providers, to potential subscribers that may include telecommunications service providers, and residential or commercial users within Archuleta County?”
The full version of this story is available in the print edition and e-edition of the Pagosa Springs SUN. Subscribe today by calling (970)264-2100 or click here.
