Zayo takes over management of Colorado's troubled EAGLE-Net Alliance

Zayo has taken over the responsibility of managing Colorado's beleaguered EAGLE-Net Alliance (ENA), an intergovernmental middle mile provider that provides fiber-based broadband services to the state's schools, libraries and other anchor institutions.

During the course of what Zayo and EAGLE-Net say is an interim agreement, the two providers will work to establish what they says will be an expanded long-term relationship.

Brent Fontana, director of Zayo Strategic Alliances, said in release that its experience in designing networks will enable it to transition EAGLE-Net into its own fold.  

"Our first priority is a seamless transition and continuity of service because we understand the importance of reliable, high-speed connectivity to Colorado schools and community institutions," Fontana said.

EAGLE-Net has seen its troubles since it emerged as one of the many entities to apply for broadband stimulus funding. In 2010, EAGLE-Net was awarded $100.6 million Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

Amidst allegations from area cable operators and telcos, including Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) and CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) that it was overbuilding in parts of Colorado, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) voted to temporarily halt Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) funding for ENA's middle mile network build that will serve a mix of local schools, universities, hospitals throughout Colorado.

Later in 2013, the NTIA told ENA that it could restart network construction on its middle mile network serving school districts and other local organizations throughout Colorado.

Zayo seems like the right fit to take over EAGLE-Net.

As one of its network provider partners, Zayo had already provides ENA with dark fiber connecting locations from Cheyenne, Wyo., to Branson, Colo., near the New Mexico border. It also built out fiber connecting EAGLE-Net's locations from Denver to Burlington in eastern Colorado.

For more:

- see the release

Related articles:
Congress' Walden, Murphy raise questions about EAGLE-Net middle mile network
EAGLE-Net can resume $100 million network buildout in Colorado, says NTIA
NTIA suspends EAGLE-Net Alliance's middle mile project
EAGLE-Net: We're not overbuilding in Colorado
Zayo adds 162 miles of fiber to EAGLE-Net's Colorado network footprint