Many Colorado communities, especially rural towns, are frustrated by inadequate broadband communications in their area, arguing lack of service limits their ability to grow and support new economic development. Despite these concerns, local governments in our more urban communities are investing and partnering in broadband to compete regionally and globally.

From the perspective of private telecom firms, it is not clear there is enough demand and funding to financially support the type of broadband many communities are asking for. Although Colorado law allows municipalities to vote to provide an option for public provision of broadband services, actually moving forward to implement broadband has been challenging. More than 100 Colorado communities have voted, and state funds have now been allocated for broadband projects.

A panel of experts will discuss the current state of municipal broadband in Colorado – the policy, political, economic and social issues to be addressed in 2019 and beyond.

Moderator:

Randy Harrison
Senior Fellow, SPA Institute for Governance

Panelists:

Jordan Beezley
Broadband Deployment Director, Department of Regulatory Affairs, State of Colorado

Dave Zelenok
Vice President/Manager, Local Government Services, HR Green, Inc.

Others to be announced!