June 1, 2010
ANN ARBOR, MI – Merit Network, Inc. has selected Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc. (ECT) to complete an environmental assessment for Merit’s Round I Broadband Stimulus project, REACH-3MC. ECT was chosen from a number of qualified organizations that responded to a Request for Proposal (RFP) Merit issued in early March.
Though it was a difficult decision, Merit ultimately chose ECT because of their familiarity with the REACH-3MC service area and the proximity of ECT offices to Merit’s headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
“ECT’s staff of experts have a great deal of experience working in the geographic regions of Michigan where REACH-3MC fiber is to be constructed,” said Bob Stovall, vice president of network operations and engineering for Merit. “In addition, they have extensive experience working with entities like the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (MDNRE) whose cooperation will be pivotal to completing the environmental assessment on schedule.”
The environmental assessment is required by the federal agency administering the grant, the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA). It must be completed before fiber construction can begin.
“It was important for us to select a firm we felt could complete a thorough assessment in an efficient amount of time,” said Merit Network’s Grant Administrator, Janice Short.
“ECT has a national reputation for providing services for projects like ours throughout North America. And their office located in Ann Arbor makes face-to-face collaboration between Merit’s team and ECT staff possible at a moment’s notice,” she said.
About Merit Network
Merit Network Inc., is a nonprofit corporation owned and governed by Michigan’s public universities. Merit owns and operates America’s longest-running regional research and education network. In 1966, Michigan’s public universities created Merit as a shared resource to help meet their common need for networking assistance. Since its formation, Merit Network has remained at the forefront of research and education networking expertise and services. Merit provides high-performance networking and IT solutions to Michigan’s public universities, colleges, K-12 organizations, libraries, state government, healthcare, and other non-profit organizations.
For more information: www.merit.edu
About ECT
Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc. (ECT) is a full-service environmental consulting firm offering a broad range of scientific, engineering, planning and management services. In today’s business climate of increasingly complex environmental issues, regulations, and requirements as well as increasing public and private sector awareness of environmental issues, ECT offers a unique alternative to meeting the diverse environmental service needs of their public sector, private industry, and not-for-profit clients.
For more information: www.ectinc.com
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