Why Broadband Is Your Community’s Next Essential Service—and Growth Engine

Across the country, municipalities are recognizing that broadband is no longer a luxury—it’s a critical utility. Like roads, water, and electricity, broadband is foundational to a thriving, connected community. But providing access alone isn’t enough to meet modern demands. Residents expect services that simplify daily life. Small businesses rely on secure digital tools to succeed. And local leaders are under pressure to deliver broadband that adapts with the needs of the community.
 

The stakes are high. Falling behind on connectivity can limit access to opportunity, deter economic development, and widen social inequality. That’s why forward-thinking municipalities are building networks that go beyond connectivity, to deliver long-term value, economic resiliency, and smarter public services.

NextLight: A Model for Community-Focused Broadband

NextLight in Longmont, Colorado, understood early on that broadband wasn’t just about internet speeds; it was an obligation to their residents and a driver of community growth. As Colorado’s first municipally owned gigabit provider, they partnered with Calix to go beyond speed—delivering the tools, services, and experiences their community needs today, with the flexibility to evolve for tomorrow. Here’s how they did it, and how your community can too:
 

1. Empower families with exceptional residential experiences.

NextLight knew that meeting subscriber expectations meant they had to deliver more than basic connectivity. They introduced Calix SmartHome™, combining powerful managed Wi-Fi systems with an easy-to-use subscriber-facing app that puts control directly into the hands of residents. Families gained the ability to manage devices, monitor usage, and create safer online experiences—all without needing IT support.
 

For Longmont’s many work-from-home subscribers, SmartHome delivered real-time control and bandwidth prioritization, ensuring their home networks could support both productivity and entertainment at the same time. These enhanced experiences helped NextLight earn PCMag’s Readers’ Choice Award for Top Home ISP in 2023 and Best Overall ISP for Home Offices in 2025.
 

2. Expand broadband efficiently and sustainably.

Scalability was a priority from the start. That’s why NextLight chose the Calix Broadband Platform, which would allow them to grow their service without overhauling infrastructure or increasing operational complexity. In 2024, this enabled them to seamlessly expand beyond Longmont city limits, connecting 125 additional households while maintaining the high standard of service their subscribers expect.
 

3. Support small businesses with tailored broadband services.

Longmont’s leadership recognized that residential broadband wouldn’t meet the needs of their local businesses—especially in an increasingly digital economy. Small businesses of all types needed reliable, secure broadband to support point-of-sale systems, customer data, and daily operations.
 

With Calix as their partner, NextLight expanded their offering with SmartBiz™, a managed service built specifically for small businesses. It delivers business-grade Wi-Fi and simplified network management, allowing owners to focus on serving customers instead of worrying about connectivity. The service was quickly embraced by businesses across Longmont, helping to fuel local economic development and improve business resiliency.
 

SmartBiz also powered the 2025 UIAA World Ice Climbing Cup, hosted in Longmont—supporting vendors, livestreaming, and public Wi-Fi during the international event. The seamless connectivity didn’t just enhance the experience for attendees; it helped attract tourists to the area, increase foot traffic, and boost spending