FORT CARSON, Colo. - The Division Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, opened its Yellow Ribbon Room at Fort Carson Dec. 1 to support family readiness by opening lines of communication.

The DSTB Yellow Ribbon Room contains six cubicles, each with a laptop and webcam. The broadband Internet stations are equipped to stream real-time video and audio signals from overseas. They are also available for sending e-mails, completing homework, paying bills and browsing websites.

"We're here to support the Families," said Maj. Matthew Cashdollar, DSTB Rear Detachment commander, who says 742 Families may benefit from the facility located at the battalion headquarters. Many loved ones parted last fall as 4th Inf. Div. Soldiers deployed to Iraq, where they took over U.S. Division North.

"There are a lot of Families without Internet access - the Yellow Ribbon Room is here for them to use," said Cashdollar. He encourages using the Internet to pass information that supplies "peace of mind for both the Soldier downrange and their Family waiting back home."

"I talk to my husband at least once a day," said Lynette Cardo, wife of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Marvin Cardo, a Soldier deployed to Iraq. "You read a lot of news, so it's nice to hear a voice. My husband cannot tell me everything that's going on, but hearing his voice reassures me everything is OK."

"This is a free way to connect," said Cardo, also the DSTB Family Readiness Support assistant. "And, we have a place for children to watch television shows and play games. If we get a lot of demand, we have volunteers who will come in and supervise children while spouses are online."

The Yellow Ribbon Room provides workstations for company- and battalion-level Family readiness group leaders, as well as a conference room.