Colorado's Multi-Use Network has been making tremendous progress that can be seen throughout many areas the State. MNT is set-up so that the project is conducted in three one-year phases in which 70 Aggregated Network Access Points (ANAP) will be implemented across the State. MNT is currently six months ahead of schedule with 48 of the 70 ANAPs and Super ANAPs now available. Furthermore, all State departments are on the MNT through the five Super ANAP MGX switches.
The new state agency Order Entry and Billing system is being rolled-out this month for State departments. The new billing system increases the accuracy of bills and provides more detailed information about the status of orders and other circuit information. The MNT has also established a Customer Relations function to help local communication for State departments so that they can better coordinate their MNT efforts.
This communications plan includes the MNT Web site, MNT Hotline and assigned MNT Representatives to provide information on MNT throughout the State. Contract arrangements between the MNT and the Department of Higher Education have been finalized to provide the MNT with transport to the Internet on the Front Range GigaPop. This allows qualified entities riding on the MNT backbone to quickly and easily reach the Internet from anywhere in the state. Colorado Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund, most often referred to as the Beanpole Fund, now has 90 Beanpole customers in southeast Colorado that are already using the MNT.
This group includes 22 city halls, medical centers, sheriff departments, nursing homes, water and sewer departments and a cemetery. In northwest Colorado, which includes Routt and Moffat Counties, 99 more Beanpole customers are scheduled for full implementation by March 31, 2002. Southwest Colorado is well into their implementation schedule and northeast Colorado is currently engaged in their Request for Proposal (RFP) phase in preparation for their implementation phase of the Beanpole process. An additional 85 public entities have also been aggregated in southeast Colorado and are currently on the MNT Network. For more detailed information and for any questions you may have regarding MNT, please visit the MNT Web site at www.state.co.us/MNT or call the toll-free MNT Hotline at 1-866-MNT-COLO.
