Colorado’s current middle-mile broadband landscape is a mixture of independent regional networks, each developed out of necessity to address connectivity gaps where the private market has not delivered. While these networks, specifically in Regions 9, 10, and 12, provide vital local services, this fragmented approach has created structural barriers that limit scalability, constrain economic growth, and prevent the state from operating as a cohesive whole.
This report provides a due diligence assessment of the current state of the middle-mile network in those Regions and lays out a strategic roadmap for evolving toward a unified, sustainable statewide framework.
The due diligence assessment confirms that while the regional networks are run by capable, lean teams, their independence results in a system with significant limitations:
- Fragmented Governance and Operations: With no central coordination, each network operates with different technical standards, disparate tools, and independent decision-making processes. This prevents end-to-end network visibility, hinders the ability to offer statewide services, and creates inefficiencies that increase costs.
- Inconsistent Financial Viability: The financial health of the networks varies significantly. Some Regions operate at a deficit and are dependent on inconsistent grant funding for survival, a model that is not sustainable in the long term.
- Barriers to Scalability and Investment: The current structure makes it difficult to attract large-scale commercial customers, leverage economies of scale, or compete effectively for major federal and state grant opportunities that favor coordinated, statewide initiatives.
To access the full report, click here