City of Boulder IT Department

Go / No-Go Strategy Analysis - Innovation & Technology Department

Summary

In 2020, the City of Boulder began constructing a “broadband backbone” as the first step toward providing community internet services. The original plan included construction of the necessary infrastructure to deliver internet services to key locations in the city. Since then, technology has changed and led to new market conditions and improved internet services. The City decided it was fiscally prudent to assess whether to continue constructing aspects of the infrastructure to locations that had improved internet accessibility. 

Approach

The City was facing a “go / no-go” decision, meaning they faced possible change in direction that needed to be supported by data. Leadline performed financial and qualitative analysis to compare various scenarios of investment and its impact on policy choices. Through this assessment, Leadline translated the original goals to the current conditions and simplified decision points. 

Leadline’s analysis resulted in the city choosing to “no-go” and will save $1 million in taxpayer dollars while still ensuring that the original goals to improve internet access is achieved.