To: Mark Udall, US Senator, Michael Bennet, US Senator, Jared Polis, US Representative, Diana DeGette, US Representative, and Ed Perlmutter, US Representative
Colorado Democrats: Support Investigation of EAGLE-Net
In signing this petition, I call upon US Senators Bennet and Udall, US Representatives Polis, DeGette and Perlmutter to join their Republican colleagues, US Representatives Gardner, Tipton, Lamborn and Coffman in supporting a non-partisan call for independent investigations by the US Secretary of Commerce, General Accounting Office (GAO) & US Senate (Oversight Hearing) into NTIA/ EAGLE-Net's alleged misuse of $100.6 million in Federal taxpayer dollars for broadband services to unserved and underserved rural communities throughout Colorado
Why is this important?
Broomfield, CO-based federal grantee EAGLE-Net has, in the last two years: a) blown through some $93 million of its $100.6 million grant and has less than 40 paying customers (of a promised 230) b) cannot account for $25 million of the grant c) is trying to "sell" the taxpayer-financed network for $8 million and its not clear that they have any takers even at that price and d) provides service to only a very small handful of Colorado's rural school districts.
Where did all the money go? Most of the $100.6 million in taxpayer money went to the construction contractor for the project, multinational corporate giant, G4S, headquartered in the UK (not Colorado, not even the US). G4S is also the corporate parent of operators of private prisons and alleged human rights abusers. Leading the charge to investigate EAGLE-Net’s alleged taxpayer rip-off are the four (4) Republican members of the Colorado Congressional delegation to the US House of Representatives, NOT the five (5) progressive Democrats in the US House and Senate.
Despite many letters, communications and petitions from constituents, communities and civic organizations across rural Colorado, Democrats in the Colorado congressional delegation consistently refuse to support any investigation into alleged fraud, waste and abuse in EAGLE-Net's $100.6 million rural broadband grant.
Please sign the petition calling on Senators Bennet and Udall, Representatives Polis, DeGette and Perlmutter to join their Republican colleagues Representatives Garner, Tipton, Lamborn and Coffman in supporting a non-partisan, independent investigation by US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritkzer, the General Accounting Office (GAO) and the US Senate (Request for an oversight hearing) into EAGLE-Net's alleged misuse of $100.6 million in taxpayer dollars 2011 through 2013.
The failure of the EAGLE-Net grant means hundreds of thousands of Colorado school kids are denied access to 21st century online learning tools. Fraud, waste, non-transparency, non-compliance, lack of oversight and blatant abuse in federal spending are NOT partisan issues.
Where did all the money go? Most of the $100.6 million in taxpayer money went to the construction contractor for the project, multinational corporate giant, G4S, headquartered in the UK (not Colorado, not even the US). G4S is also the corporate parent of operators of private prisons and alleged human rights abusers. Leading the charge to investigate EAGLE-Net’s alleged taxpayer rip-off are the four (4) Republican members of the Colorado Congressional delegation to the US House of Representatives, NOT the five (5) progressive Democrats in the US House and Senate.
Despite many letters, communications and petitions from constituents, communities and civic organizations across rural Colorado, Democrats in the Colorado congressional delegation consistently refuse to support any investigation into alleged fraud, waste and abuse in EAGLE-Net's $100.6 million rural broadband grant.
Please sign the petition calling on Senators Bennet and Udall, Representatives Polis, DeGette and Perlmutter to join their Republican colleagues Representatives Garner, Tipton, Lamborn and Coffman in supporting a non-partisan, independent investigation by US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritkzer, the General Accounting Office (GAO) and the US Senate (Request for an oversight hearing) into EAGLE-Net's alleged misuse of $100.6 million in taxpayer dollars 2011 through 2013.
The failure of the EAGLE-Net grant means hundreds of thousands of Colorado school kids are denied access to 21st century online learning tools. Fraud, waste, non-transparency, non-compliance, lack of oversight and blatant abuse in federal spending are NOT partisan issues.