The Longmont Experience:Progress through Municipal-Owned Utility

Shawn LewisAssistant City Manager

©Rick Lovel

Longmont: the intersection of high tech and manufacturing

Longmont Power & Communications

LPC Quick Facts• 1 of 4 owners of Platte

River Power• Fiber backbone built

to connect substations• 37,928 customers• One if the lowest

electric rates on the Front Range

• 99.9992% reliability (according to ASAI)

The Early Fiber Discussion

Investigating the Possibility• 1996: City leaders visit Cedar Falls,

Iowa

• 1997: 17 mile fiber loop constructed; Google domain name registered for first time

• 2000: City signs agreement with Adesta

• 2005: SB152 passes

• 2010: Longmont solicits Google fiber

Fighting for the Right

A History of Votes

• 2009: 1st Vote– Telecoms spend $245,513– Vote fails by 57%

• 2011: 2nd Vote– Telecoms spend $419,629– Vote passes by 60%

• 2013: $45 million construction bond vote– No telecom spending– Vote passes by 66%

Building & Selling NextLight

NextLight Marketing Video

Installation of NextLight

• TCS Communications selected for build out

• 38,500 customers w/ eventual fiber access

• Take rate = faster deployment

• Began Q3 2014, concludes Q4 2016

Residential Rates

Commercial Rates

How Fast is It?

Broadband Speeds in Select US Cities

Longmont Speeds

NextLight: So What?

What’s in it for Longmont?

Next Steps• Create a strategic plan• Bridge the digital divide

• Market the service externally for economic development