It’s all in how you market it: Losing the case for competition

A few years back, I was working with Longmont Power and Communications (LPC) to take advantage of the fiber ring and FTTH capabilities that they have. Longmont, Colorado is a city with a population of 100,000 just north of Boulder. They are in an economic transition into a knowledge-based community. Their tax base is eroding as retail shops close up to make way for the big-box stores. Providing the community with low-cost broadband services from more than just the two incumbents would give the town a much needed economic shot in the arm.

LPC and other departments in the city saw the value in trying to utilize these virtually stranded assets unfortunately state law prevented them from taking advantage of them. The only way to get around this law was to let the voters decide if the city should get into the telecommunications business. At that time the political will was not there because they were embarking on another ill-fated venture for municipal Wi-Fi and the newly elected mayor was a Qwest-lifer. I moved on...