Regional Telecommunications Plan Results Available - Upd. September 22, 2004

Our small corner of the northwest is telecommunications rich, with plenty of vendors offering diverse services, according to a study released today. This infrastructure could help attract a number of diverse industries to the gorge, including consulting, recreation, professional technical services, health care, and waste management.

The Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD), in association with the Gorge Teleconsortium, published the Columbia Gorge Regional Telecommunications Plan. The plan inventories existing telecommunications services in the region and identifies specific telecommunication marketing and implementation strategies necessary to spur desired growth and development in the four-county Gorge Region.

The study concluded that telecommunications coverage and service diversity is abundant in most of the gorge. Most metropolitan areas benefit from multiple providers providing redundant services.

The report states that fiber for high-speed telecommunications is available at competitive rates in most metropolitan areas. Competing fiber services are available in Hood River, Stevenson and The Dalles.

Cell phone coverage is generally good in all populated areas, with competing services available. There is spotty coverage in some low-lying, less populated areas, according to the report.

Broadband Internet access is available in all metropolitan areas, either via DSL, wireless access, fiber, or cable.

The report went on to make recommendations for appropriate target industries that would benefit from these services. These include:

· management firms/consultants
· arts/entertainment/recreation
· information and professional technical services
· energy and waste management services
· health care and social services
· agriculture and forest resource operations

The telecommunications plan was developed by Harper, Houf, Peterson, Righellis, Inc., with input and direction from the Gorge Teleconsortium. The Teleconsortium is a coalition of telecommunication businesses and government and economic development agencies.

Through a series of town-hall meetings, stakeholder surveys, telephone surveys and consultant discussions, the six month effort resulted in a 96-page plan and website that identifies telecommunications providers, services, and opportunities within the gorge, including Hood River, Klickitat, Skamania and Wasco counties.

The entire plan is available at www.gorgetel.org. There you will find survey responses, town hall meeting minutes, maps with coverage availability, and proposed next steps.

The Gorge Teleconsortium is creating a short presentation about the plan that they think will be beneficial information for a variety of groups, including civic organizations, chambers of commerce, and economic development agencies. If your group is interested in scheduling a presentation, please contact Lee Curtis, MCEDD, at lee@mcedd.org.

Website: GorgeTel.org

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