Wireless Access Initiative

In September, 2006, a group of 10 Colorado cities and counties came together to form a partnership called Colorado Wireless Communities (CWC). The cities and counties that form the CWC envision the collaboration as “Communities partnering to enable comprehensive low cost wireless broadband for residents, businesses, institutions, and visitors” in order to achieve the following objectives:

• Promote job, business and economic growth throughout the CWC region
• Provide a backup and contingency infrastructure for disaster response and recovery
• Enhance education by improving teacher/student interaction and enabling distance learning
• Improve efficiency of government services, including enhanced interoperable public safety communications
• Improve the experience for visitors, tourists and business travelers across the CWC region

CWC is determined that access to comprehensive low cost wireless broadband for residents, businesses, institutions, and visitors would enhance their ability to sustain vibrant communities and preserve/improve the quality of life. Currently, the CWC member municipalities are: Arvada, Boulder, City and County of Broomfield, Golden, Lakewood, Louisville, Northglenn, Town of Superior, Thornton, and Wheat Ridge. We anticipate and invite other partner communities to join the group starting in 2008.

With a present population of approximately 620,000, it represents nearly 15% of Colorado’s population. CWC is approximately 197 square miles, at the base of the Rocky Mountains and is well situated for deployment of wireless technologies.