Connect Boulder speeds toward city broadband

Last November, Boulder residents approved Ballot Measure 2C, which re-established the city of Boulder’s autonomy to invest in community broadband services.  Not many ballot measures get 83 percent approval, but this one did.

Voters exempted Boulder from Senate Bill 05-152, a state law that limited governments from competing with the private sector and required local governments to get voter approval before entering into the broadband business.  In the last few years, voters in a dozen Colorado communities, including Longmont, Centennial and Montrose, passed similar measures.

So, what’s happened since November? Delivering fiber for high-speed Internet to all Boulder homes and businesses will take some time, but here’s an update on what’s happening and what’s next.  As a result of the 2C vote, the city of Boulder is now rolling out free WiFi to public spaces and working to enhance broadband services throughout the community.

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On April 7, the city expanded its free public WiFi network to include the outdoor space in the Civic Area downtown (approximately Ninth to 13th streets and south of Canyon Boulevard to Boulder Creek).  More outdoor WiFi areas are in the works. Signs with a new “Connect Boulder” project logo show where service is available. More details can be found at www.connectboulder.net .

Since March, a broadband working group has been established and has met regularly to explore the best way to bring high-speed Internet access to all of Boulder.   A mix of experts and interested residents, including a Boulder High School student, a telecommunications guru, a Boulder Valley School District representative, a home-based Boulder businessman, and a Boulder Chamber representative are volunteering  their time.

The broadband working group, with the support of city staff, is studying the promises and challenges of delivering a world-class high-speed fiber network to Boulder.  They have been tackling issues such as “how many gigs” should we aim for? How do we “bridge the digital divide” so that all Boulder residents and businesses have access to the best high-speed service, not just those who can afford a premium price?  This working group has created a “vision” for broadband service that “acknowledge(s) that broadband is a critical service for quality of life, as is the case with roads, water, sewer, and electricity.  Every home, business, non-profit organization, government entity, and place of education should have the opportunity to connect affordably, easily, and securely.” 

Also, the city of Boulder just received responses to a request for proposals for a consultant to conduct a technical broadband feasibility study.  This study will evaluate the community’s current and future demand for broadband products and services, as well as the city’s current broadband communications assets, and aid in the next potential step of evaluating potential partners.

Here’s the key.  Ballot measure 2C allows the city of Boulder either to directly build out a fiber network or work with a private partner to provide high-speed services.  While either option could fulfill its vision, the city has been most interested in a public-private partnership model.

Since November, there is already evidence that the marketplace is beginning to respond, with several providers recently announcing provision of multiple-gig service for residential and commercial service.  (The working group has begun discussions with these providers to better understand their projected plans and service offerings.)  If the passage of 2C encourages the private sector to either meet Boulder’s broadband vision or partner with the city to do so, then the ballot measure’s purpose will be fulfilled. A more connected community.  Open-access infrastructure.  Internet service and speed that keeps up with the incredible innovation by Boulder’s businesses and labs.  As we evaluate the paths before us, the Boulder community can be confident that we will soon Connect Boulder.

Liz Hanson is economic vitality coordinator for the city of Boulder. She can be reached at 303-441-3287 or via email at HansonL@bouldercolorado.gov .