Boulder Valley School District 3A -- Lease Excess Capacity on Fiber Optic Networks

Voters in Longmont in 2011 and in Boulder in 2014 allowed their municipalities to provide telecommunications services to non-municipal entities. Similarly, BVSD wants to lease excess capacity on its fiber optic networks to bring in more General Fund revenue. Negotiations with lessees would begin after passage of 3A so there are currently no revenue projections. See the 2014 Boulder 2C ballot issue for the state and municipal history on this issue.

The 2006 BVSD voter-approved bond funded a fiber optic network which currently has some excess or “dark fiber” capacity. As with last year’s 2C, proponents say that BVSD could bring broadband infrastructure to student neighborhoods which currently don’t have Internet (although the BVSD 3A ballot issue webpage doesn’t mention this option) with the goal of helping to close the achievement gap.

The BVSD Board of Education voted 6-0 with one member absent to place this issue on the ballot.

Recommendation: yes

Depending on the length of the lease(s) negotiated, BVSD could find itself in the future needing more fiber optic capacity while leasing “excess” capacity. Nevertheless, for the present it seems economically prudent to lease out excess capacity.

BVSD Ballot Measure Webpage
http://bvsd.org/boe/Pages/BallotMeasure.aspx
Available in English and Spanish.
No known campaign website for the Yes side.

Website for the No side
No known website – Info on an opposition website appreciated.


Approved Ballot Language

Boulder Valley School District RE-2 Ballot Question 3A

Without increasing taxes, shall Boulder Valley School District No. RE-2 be authorized to lease current excess capacity on its existing fiber optic networks or to otherwise provide high-speed internet services (advanced services), telecommunications services, and/or cable television services, including any new and improved high bandwidth services based on future technologies, to schools, libraries, residents, businesses, nonprofit entities, and other users or subscribers of such services, either directly or indirectly, by contract and/or through sale or purchase of resale or wholesale services, with public or private sector partners, as expressly permitted with voter approval by Article 27, Title 29 of the Colorado Revised Statutes?

Yes___
No___

See BVSD RE-2 Resolution No. 15-17 to refer 3A to the voters.
http://www.boarddocs.com/co/bvsd/Board.nsf/Public
Click on the Library tab, then Resolutions -2015, then “Authorizing a Ballot Issue…”