City Issues a Request for Information for Potential Partner to Deliver Community Broadband

The city intends to identify one or more potential partners to enable or directly provide high-capacity broadband services over fiber to end users within the city.

“As we prepare for further City Council discussion on a future community broadband operating model, it is imperative that we understand the market potential for a PPP to meet the city’s goals related to connectivity. We look forward to responses that consider a variety of business models to share technological and operational responsibilities and financial risk with the city in innovative ways.” Innovation and Technology Deputy Director Mike Giansanti said. “The city is looking for a partner or partners that will come to table with new ideas, create competition, and either fully funds or share costs.”

City officials have prioritized pursuing the deployment of a fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) network that will connect to every home and business and will:

• Serve growing demand for affordable, reliable, and sophisticated broadband technology; and

• Support a thriving business environment.

In 2018, Boulder City Council approved funding and gave direction to construct a city-wide, high-density, 432-strand fiber backbone that connects key city and community sites, as well as the majority of city traffic signals. Additionally, this fiber backbone can serve as a vital piece of any new fiber infrastructure required to offer community FTTP services. The 65-mile fiber backbone is expected to be completed in 2023.

The city will consider a range of construction, operation, and ownership models for the FTTP network. A council decision on operating model and authorization to execute partnership or path to financing is expected in the coming year.

The full RFI is available online at www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado.Responses to this request are due back by May. 19, 2023.

To learn more about this effort, please visit the project website.