Executive Summary
The Challenge & Mandate: A Statewide Directive
Colorado’s mission to achieve universal high-speed internet access was not just an administrative
goal — it was an executive mandate. Under Executive Order 2022-023, the Governor’s Office tasked
the Colorado Broadband Office (CBO) with a monumental objective: connecting every Coloradan to
high-speed internet. However, bridging the digital divide across a geographically and socially
diverse state required more than just funding; it demanded a revolutionary model of
cross-boundary collaboration and robust public-private partnerships.
In 2022, approximately 360,000 locations in Colorado lacked high-speed internet, creating
significant disparities in rural areas. To address this, the CBO launched the BEAD initiative to
achieve universal broadband coverage and ensure all Coloradans have the reliable access needed to
thrive.
Colorado’s broadband expansion proves that infrastructure is only as strong as the ecosystem
supporting it. By serving as the central nervous system between the Governor’s executive vision,
3,000+ stakeholders, and 150+ private-sector Internet Service Providers (ISPs), the Broadband
Office transformed a fragmented challenge into a unified triumph of modern civic governance. This
project stands as a premier model for how public-private partnerships can solve our era’s most
complex equity challenges.
