COLORADO ANNOUNCES THREE-POINT INCREASE IN RURAL BROADBAND COVERAGE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 14, 2019

The state of Colorado is one step closer to providing universal broadband access

DENVER, Colo.—The Colorado Broadband Office announced today that the state’s rural broadband coverage rose three points since last fall. The percentage of rural households with access to high-speed broadband - defined by the Federal Communications Commission as 25Mbps download/3Mbps upload - increased from 83% in October 2018 to 86% in April 2019.

Governor Jared Polis is committed to modernizing Colorado’s broadband infrastructure to expand internet access across the state and help rural communities overcome economic challenges.

“Broadband is no longer a luxury, but a necessity,” Polis explained. “Affordable and reliable broadband is critical to educating our youth, providing quality health care, and keeping our residents safe.”

Colorado’s improved rural broadband coverage is a result of projects completed through Department of Regulatory Agencies Broadband Fund grants and investments over the last five years from the Department of Local Affairs Broadband Grant program. Organic investment occurring in some parts of the state, primarily by rural electric cooperatives, also contributed to the increase, as did continued improvement in the data provided to the State of Colorado from service providers.

“We are moving in the right direction to reach the June 2020 goal of providing 92% rural broadband access,” Colorado Broadband Office Executive Director Anthony Neal-Graves said. “Over the next five years the state will be investing at least $115M to achieve our ultimate goal of 100% household access.”

The Colorado Broadband Office within the Governor’s Office of Information Technology works to bring together public sector leaders with private sector solutions that fit the individual needs of communities, while ensuring the collaboration that ties together individual projects into regional and statewide solutions. The Office coordinates and supports the planning and funding opportunities available within Colorado that will help the state reach its goal of providing universal broadband access.

About OIT
The Colorado Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT) is responsible for the operation and delivery of information and communications technology services and innovation across all Executive Branch agencies in the State of Colorado. OIT’s charge is twofold: (1) to provide world-class IT services to Colorado’s Executive Branch agencies; and (2) to promote Colorado as the ideal location for IT companies and technology-based workers. OIT drives innovative technology solutions, provides quality service, and supports the agencies whose missions are so critical to serving Coloradans. We do this by overseeing technology initiatives at the state level, recommending strategies and maximizing efficiencies of service delivery in a cost-effective manner through the application of enterprise technology solutions. Our enterprise approach also enables the agile delivery of new applications to state agencies that improve citizen access to government services while increasing accountability and transparency.

Media Contact:

Brandi Simmons

Chief Communications Officer & PIO

303.764.6897
brandi.simmons@state.co.us