Updates

Due to COVID restrictions the Telecommunications team will be working remotely until at least January 17. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Upper Red Mountain power outages may occur this winter affecting FM radio coverage in Aspen.

Upper Red is a solar powered telecommunications site. During heavy snow, ice or long periods of cloudy skies, the solar panels struggle to generate enough power to both charge our batteries and operate the equipment we have there. The site is very remote so it is difficult to access and clear off the panels during winter – something our team cannot commit to after every storm.

On the bright side, the batteries do recharge quickly under sunny skies so the site should restore itself soon after the sun comes out! We are planning an upgrade to our solar array and generator in Summer 2022 which should lessen the chances of outages, especially during the short days and low sun angles of winter.

Thomasville TV and broadband equipment has been installed. All TV transmitters are online and the full complement of channels is now available from the Thomasville tower site. Viewers in the Upper Fryingpan Valley will need to rescan their TVs.

Additionally, wireless broadband panels are now online. Residents in the Upper Fryingpan Valley should contact Pathfinder Broadband or Visionary Broadband to see if you are positioned to get wireless broadband internet at your location.

Thomasville site is now completed but still waiting on a few more pieces of equipment, (hopefully in about a week) to be fully functional. Currently there is limited TV available, channels 4, 18, 7 and 9. When the new equipment arrives the balance of available TV stations will be available and broadband will be ready to start up. Please call Pathfinder or Visionary Broadband to see if you are positioned to get wireless broadband internet at your location.

The Thomasville site construction will begin on August 2nd as originally planned. However, in order to meet the condensed construction schedule, staff plan to bring the Thomasville site offline and commence decommissioning of old equipment starting this Thursday, July 29th, for the site to be fully prepared for demolition on Monday.

Work on the Upper Red equipment shelter is beginning today, a few days ahead of schedule. This will take down 8 radio stations for about 2 weeks as remodel and repair work progresses in the shelter. KVOV 101.5 will continue to be broadcast from the Pitkin County jail tower.