City of Boulder, ALLO Communications Agree to Fiber Lease to Deliver Affordable and Reliable High-Speed Internet

The City of Boulder has developed a transformative agreement with ALLO Communications to bring affordable, high-speed internet access to community members and businesses across the city. This collaboration will significantly enhance Boulder's digital infrastructure, expanding access to high-quality broadband services while fostering equity, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability.

This achievement stems from a 2018 decision by City Council to construct a citywide fiber backbone. This forward-thinking initiative secured the city's future ability to support various broadband business models, ensuring long-term flexibility and growth in digital infrastructure.

Key aspects of the agreement include:

• Citywide Access

  ALLO will expand its state-of-the-art fiber-optic network to provide high-speed internet to 80% of the city by 2028, with a goal of reaching 97% coverage by 2030. This ambitious rollout will ensure that Boulder community members and businesses can access fast, reliable connectivity, positioning the city as a leader in digital equity in Colorado.

• Competitive Pricing

  As part of its commitment to affordability, ALLO Communications will offer internet rates that are at or below those available in other Colorado markets with more than 10,000 ALLO customers. The pricing will be transparent, with no hidden fees, ensuring that Boulder's community members and businesses have access to cost-effective options without unexpected charges.

• Equitable and Inclusive Service

  ALLO will ensure equitable access to broadband services for all Boulder community members, by offering discounted rates that will be offered to low-income households. In addition, ALLO will provide free internet access to 25 local non-profit organizations, ensuring that community organizations have the tools they need to thrive in a digital world.

  To further support families and students, ALLO will offer complimentary service upgrades to college students in the city, ensuring that all have access to the educational resources and opportunities available online. A physical storefront in Boulder conveniently located along public transportation routes will provide easy access to customer support and create new local jobs.

• Future-Ready Infrastructure

  ALLO's fiber-optic network is designed to scale with the growing demands of the city, ensuring that future generations of community members will have access to leading-edge technology. The network will be built using sustainable materials to minimize its environmental footprint, aligning with the city's commitment to sustainability.

  Under the agreement, ALLO will also build a 288-strand fiber micro duct within an empty city-owned conduit, which will be fully owned and operated by the city to connect government and private assets to serve other community needs.

• Net Neutrality and Consumer Privacy

  ALLO is committed to maintaining a fully open internet, free from data caps, traffic prioritization, or other restrictions that limit users' access to content. The company also guarantees strong protections for consumer data, ensuring compliance with the Colorado Privacy Act and prioritizing user privacy and security.

"We're thrilled to work with ALLO Communications to bring affordable and reliable high-speed internet to every corner of Boulder," said City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde. "This partnership will provide significant benefits to our community, from empowering students and small businesses to supporting remote work and ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital age."

"ALLO is delighted to have the opportunity to serve the Boulder community with world-class fiber to the premises," said Brad Moline, ALLO Founder & CEO. Our multi-gig offerings to residents, businesses, government, and educational environments throughout the city position Boulder for nearly anything the digital world poses. Not only reliable, consistent bandwidth, but the security and services to ensure a safe and well-managed network will be the hallmarks this infrastructure delivers to the city's constituents each day."

ALLO will lease a portion of city-owned fiber-backbone infrastructure that was completed earlier this year. In return the city will receive a $1.5 million upfront lease payment, ongoing lease revenue from success-based fees, and a share of ALLO's wholesale revenue, which, combined, will fund future community initiatives. The city estimates the total net present value of the lease deal to be about $9 million.

Service will be rolled out in phases, with initial installations expected to begin in late 2025.