Tag Archive for: telecommunications

Loveland Pulse celebrates 2020 milestones, looks ahead to 2021

A message from the City of Loveland’s Municipal Fiber Manager Brieana Reed-Harmel

 

Happy New Year, Loveland! 

The Pulse team started 2020 with high expectations, solid plans, and a whole lot of tenacity. Launching a brand new utility from the ground up is never simple. Doing so during a once-in-a-century pandemic added an unpredictable layer to this unique process. That said, I am proud to announce that our project is on time, on budget, and our team has met or exceeded the goals set for the first year. More importantly, 2020 has proven that fast, affordable, high-speed internet service is essential to our community. 

2020 Hindsight

Looking back, construction kicked-off during what turned out to be a record-setting, historic November snowfall in our region. We built the crucial core components of our network, allowing connection to the greater World Wide Web, and began transmission of our very first bits and bytes. Our operations platform was brought to life, and over three dozen city team members were trained to use it. We launched residential and business services, allowing our first customers to benefit from our 100% fiber-optic network. Our subscriber rate (or take rate) since our launch, is exceeding our goals in the business plan and we are off to a great start. Read more about how we approach our take rate measurement here and view our monthly Fiber to the Premise reports at pulsefiber.org/PulseInProgress for details. These updates are an important part of our commitment to transparency.

In addition to construction and service, we also sponsored free public WiFi outside the Loveland Public Library, launched a local support center for customers to enjoy 24/7/365 technical assistance, established connectivity for the underserved Big Thompson Elementary School, and started an outreach program for  Homeowners’ Associations to help educate about Colorado 811 laws and protect private infrastructure during construction. Learn more and sign up at our directory by visiting pulsefiber.org/HOA. 

What does 2021 hold?

Heading into year two of a four-year construction project, we will continue to work as quickly, efficiently, and safely as we can to serve you. Additionally, I am happy to share that we will be offering PulseTV service in 2021. With PulseTV you will be able to stream and watch your favorite programming from sports and entertainment to local-only channels and more – live. It’s a viewing experience Loveland has never had before. Sign up at pulsefiber.org/EarlyInterest if you want us to email you when details come available.

As always, we encourage you to stay connected with us at pulsefiber.org, and on social media. 

We are proud to be your trusted, local communications utility. On behalf of the entire Pulse team, thank you for your continued support. We are excited about what 2021 will bring!

New AIPP Artwork Maintenance Reserve made possible with Pulse support

A much-needed artwork maintenance reserve for the City’s public art collection became a reality this past August thanks to the collaboration between the City’s Arts In Public Places (AIPP) program and Loveland Pulse, the City’s high-speed internet service provider.

Mark Dedecker works to maintain and restore artwork through Loveland’s Art in Public Places program.

AIPP is funded by the 1% contribution from all City of Loveland capital projects of $50,000 or more. The additional revenue from the Loveland Pulse project will support the reserve starting in 2023.

According to Susan Ison, director of cultural services for the City of Loveland, the City has needed a maintenance reserve of this nature for more than 20 years.

 

“The expense of annual maintenance grows as new pieces are donated or purchased,” said Ison. “The additional funding from the Pulse project is significant—and helps confirm that we can finally make this option a reality for Loveland.”

 

In January, the Visual Arts Commission (VAC) approved a proposal from Joe Bernosky, director of Loveland Water and Power, to defer Pulse payments to 2023. This approval allows Pulse to retain the 1% funds during initial construction years so the utility can get further with construction faster, have more flexibility and contingency with the project, and offer additional value-add services to customers.

Pulse will contribute approximately $700,000 to the AIPP Artwork Maintenance Reserve by 2029. The reserve will set aside revenue for the future that is earmarked for maintenance of the City’s growing and diverse art collection, which sits at 513 pieces today. The current maintenance budget is $75,000 per year.

“This is truly a win-win for Loveland,” said Bernosky. “Pulse will bring educational, commercial, and artistic benefits to citizens throughout the community and even greater (and possibly unknown) benefits in the future. We are grateful for the collaboration to support both Loveland’s public art and its trusted new utility.”

The new AIPP Artwork Maintenance Reserve has been created thanks to Pulse support. It will add more funding to maintain the city’s public art collection.

 

One key benefit of this fund – more dollars to maintain and plan for unexpected deterioration or vandalism of the complete collection, including the well-loved and well-used Benson Sculpture Park with 160+ sculptures on display.

 

“Loveland’s public art collection is one of the best in the nation, and thanks to Pulse, we have confidence we will be able to keep up the caliber of maintenance needed on an ongoing basis,” said Maryjo Morgan, Visual Arts Commissioner. “Not only is Pulse supporting our public art collection, but the utility is also adding value to the community by bringing affordable, dependable internet services to our residents and business when we need it most.”

 

 

Loveland City Councilor John Fogle Named to FCC’s Intergovernmental Advisory Committee

Loveland Ward 3 City Councilor and Loveland Communications Advisory Board (LCAB) liaison John Fogle has been chosen as one of 12 municipal representatives from across the U.S. to serve on the FCC’s Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC). Fogle is the IAC’s only Colorado representative and will serve a two-year term. 

The IAC provides guidance, expertise, and recommendations to the Commission on a range of telecommunication issues. The FCC reauthorized the IAC on Nov. 8, 2019. Chairman Ajit Pai announced the appointment of 30 elected and appointed officials from municipal, county, state, and Tribal governments last week.  

Fogle has served on Loveland’s City Council since 2011 and has been a member of the National League of Cities Information, Technology and Communications (NLC-ITC) federal advisory committee for six years. He was an early advocate for Loveland’s municipal broadband network and has held various roles including council liaison to the Broadband Taskforce and LCAB. LCAB advises council on broadband and communication matters, including Loveland Pulse, the City’s communications utility that provides high-speed internet and voice service to residents and businesses. 

Fogle has been in the technology field for 38 years and has owned and operated an IT consulting and sales business for the past 13 years.

“Councilor Fogle’s appointment is a huge benefit for Loveland Pulse and the northern Colorado region. The need for ubiquitous access to affordable, reliable communications technology is undeniable and has never been more important,” said Brieana Reed-Harmel, City of Loveland Fiber Manager. “Councilor Fogle understands the technical, municipal, and business sides of telecommunications as well as the unique needs of our communities. He will not only be a voice for Loveland and Colorado at the federal level, but he will bring a tremendous amount of knowledge and passion to the IAC.”

 

“I am proud to bring my expertise to the IAC as the FCC continues to explore public access to information systems and telecommunications,” said Fogle. “I have been fortunate to work closely with Loveland and surrounding cities on broadband issues through my work as a city councilor and NLC-ITC and look forward to continuing my work advising on the broadband industry, 5G and more.”