Denver Post
The day net neutrality died, Colorado lawmakers put an extra nail in the coffin
A Republican-led Colorado state Senate panel rejected a net neutrality bill April 24. The state-level measure attempted to disqualify internet service providers from receiving grants from a broadband program if they manipulated access and speed based on content. The measure also would have required governments contracting for service to give preference to providers who certified allegiance to open-internet standards. “It uses the nexus of state support to protect the idea … of free internet,” said CO state Sen Kerry Donovan, (D-Vail).
As vultures circle, The Denver Post must be saved
[Editorial] Consider this a plea to Alden — owner of Digital First Media, one of the largest newspaper chains in the country — to rethink its business strategy across all its newspaper holdings. Consider this also a signal to our community and civic leaders that they ought to demand better. Denver deserves a newspaper owner who supports its newsroom.
Rural Colorado is about to score a major broadband win
Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) is poised to sign a bill to allocate $115 million in the next five years to extend high-speed internet to rural Colorado, a significant step toward achieving his goal to connect the entire state. The measure is a legacy piece for the term-limited governor and a major victory for state lawmakers who prioritized the needs of beleaguered rural communities as a way to bridge their deep divide with the state’s robust urban areas.
Denver’s 5G cell-signal future will rely on hundreds of 30-foot poles spread across many blocks – that has rankled residents (Denver Post)
Submitted by benton on Wed, 03/14/2018 - 10:45Loveland (CO) votes to start developing municipal broadband network
The Loveland (CO) City Council voted on four measures that will allow the city to begin developing a municipal broadband network. The city will spend $2.5 million from the general power fund to gather more information about the network. Loveland’s broadband task force recommended the city pursue a community broadband network through a retail — or utility — model or through a public-public partnership model. But nothing precludes the city from potentially pursuing partnership options with private entities.
Boulder, Colorado reluctant to tackle broadband vote in 2018 (Denver Post)
Submitted by Robbie McBeath on Wed, 01/10/2018 - 14:55Centennial’s (CO) new gigabit internet service that’s not Comcast breaks ground next week (Denver Post)
Submitted by Robbie McBeath on Mon, 12/11/2017 - 15:15Colorado law hinders cities' efforts to expand broadband networks
[Commentary] Denver City Councilman Albus Brooks not long ago in a meeting with the mayor raised an interesting question: Why didn't Denver offer a free citywide Wi-Fi service? The answer: Because it is illegal.
Not only does Senate Bill 152 affect public Wi-Fi, the law also has hindered the expansion of high-speed broadband networks across Colorado. It has kept consumer prices high and download speeds slow and has arguably cost the state jobs.
Similar to other laws across the country enacted at the same time, SB 152 was pushed by large telecommunications companies as a way to restrict future municipal broadband efforts.
The statute created by SB 152 needs to go away. While civic and business leaders tout ambitious projects to connect the state with the rest of the world, Colorado is falling behind because of artificial constraints to broadband expansion.