Allo and Boulder, CO reach agreement on fiber broadband services

The Boulder City Council has unanimously approved a 20-year lease agreement allowing ALLO Communications LLC (a CBAN provider member) to use the city’s fiber backbone to provide citywide broadband service. ALLO, a telecom company with over 1.2 million customers, plans to cover 80% of Boulder by 2028 and 97% by 2030. The deal is expected to generate $9 million in revenue for Boulder, including an upfront payment of $1.5 million, ongoing fees, and a share of wholesale lease revenue.

The agreement emphasizes equitable access, offering discounted services for low-income households, free services for nonprofits, and upgraded services for students. ALLO will also maintain a public transit-accessible store in Boulder. However, the broadband service will not extend to unincorporated areas of Boulder County unless annexed into the city.

The decision follows years of planning, starting in 2018 when Boulder committed to affordable broadband and constructed a $20 million fiber backbone. After exploring three operational models, city staff recommended leasing the network to a private company as the quickest and most cost-effective approach. ALLO was chosen for its commitment to net neutrality, inclusive service, and citywide coverage.

While council members largely praised the agreement, some expressed regret that Boulder could not provide municipal broadband. Mayor Pro Tem Nicole Speer acknowledged concerns about involving a for-profit entity but commended staff for balancing community needs. Councilmember Matt Benjamin called the deal a significant achievement, and Councilmember Lauren Folkerts highlighted the faster timeline it enables. Construction and service rollout could begin as early as next year.