Boulder City Council adopted an ordinance on March 20 granting Allo Communications LLC a 20-year cable franchise to provide cable video service and related use of public rights-of-way in the city.

The ordinance implements a federal statutory framework that lets local governments require franchise agreements for providers of cable video service while limiting local regulation of rates and programming. Carl Castillo, the city’s chief policy advisor, briefed council on the franchise’s scope and said the agreement is “nearly identical” to the existing Comcast franchise in key terms required by law. Castillo told council that the franchise addresses customer service standards, technical rules, franchise fees, public-education-and-government (PEG) access, and construction and maintenance standards for use of the public right-of-way.

Brad Moline, founder and CEO of Allo, told council the company will deploy fiber-to-the-premises service and compete for customers on broadband and video products. “This has been a long process, but it’s been productive and good,” Moline said, adding Allo’s build model is intended to reach residences, businesses and institutional customers throughout a community.

Assistant City Attorney Andy Frower and IT staff said the city has assembled an implementation team to coordinate permitting, traffic control and other construction logistics. Don Mulvey, deputy director of IT, said staff has begun joint planning with Allo on at least one site to avoid repeated digs and reduce community disruption.

Councilmember Matt (motion maker) moved adoption of the ordinance on second reading; the motion passed unanimously on roll-call vote. The ordinance number referenced in the meeting materials was “86 88.” The council’s action authorizes the city manager and staff to finalize ministerial steps tied to the franchise agreement.

Why it matters: the franchise formalizes a second cable/broadband provider in Boulder and pairs Allo’s service commitments with use of the city’s fiber backbone and public rights-of-way. Council and staff emphasized coordination on permitting and public-safety protections during construction, and that the franchise does not give the city authority to set retail rates or programming.

What’s next: Allo and the city will move to implementation steps—permitting, construction phasing and weekly coordination meetings—and staff said they will work to minimize traffic and excavation impacts in neighborhoods.