[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 121 (Monday, September 25, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO LEE COLLEGE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 25, 2006

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, residents of Chambers County and Baytown, in 
my Congressional district, who currently lack high-speed internet 
access, will soon be able to obtain an extremely reliable high-speed 
internet service comparably priced to DSL. This is due to the efforts 
of a consortium consisting of Lee College, Chambers County, Chambers 
Liberty Counties Navigation District, East Chambers Independent School 
District, and Trinity Bay Conservation District.
  The consortium began working on the project in 2000, after the 
Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund board authorized Community 
Network Grants in order to fund internet access for undersevered areas. 
Lee College applied for a $500,000 grant on behalf of the consortium. 
The consortium was one of the few groups that were awarded the full 
grant of $550,000--the amount applied for plus a 10% match by the 
consortium.
  Among the technical challenges fadng the consortium was constructing 
four 150-foot towers, wiring ten buildings, and coordinating with the 
governmental agencies involved. Once those challenges where resolved, 
the consortium faced the challenge of finding a company to maintain the 
system. Fortunately, the consortium was able to contract with TeleShare 
Communications Services.
  TeleShare was looking for opportunities to expand, and, according to 
Mark Ocker, TeleShare's president,'' . . . the opportunity to use an 
existing network by partnering with Chambers County and Lee College 
came up, and it proved to be a great match for both TeleShare and the 
consortium.''
  I am pleased to take this opportunity to extend my congratulations 
and thanks to Lee College and all the members of the consortium for 
their efforts to improve the lives of the residents of Chambers County 
and Baytown.

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