NextLight projects modest subscriber growth, to retire debt by 2029

NextLight staff presented its 2026 budget to Longmont council on Sept. 16 and described steady revenue growth and customer penetration goals. Valerie Dodd, NextLight executive director, said the broadband utility expects to have nearly 30,000 subscribers by the end of 2026 and plans to add about 600 net subscribers that year; she said about a third of those gains would be through bulk agreements with multi-dwelling-unit properties.

Dodd said revenue is growing faster than customer count because of higher average revenue per user from additional product sales (for example, NextLight Wi-Fi 6 routers and commercial deals). She said NextLight’s capital spending is small relative to the city’s total CIP (about 3%) and noted that NextLight expects to retire its outstanding debt in 2029, which would add approximately $5–$6 million in operating flexibility to the fund.

On infrastructure, NextLight said it follows LPC’s lead on undergrounding; NextLight’s aerial fiber is susceptible to wildlife damage (the presentation referenced squirrels), and staff said funding for fiber undergrounding is included in the CIP as a contingency to take advantage of opportunities. Dodd also said NextLight is exploring marketing and outreach to new residents and realtors to increase adoption among households that move into wired homes but do not subscribe.

Why this matters: Municipal broadband decisions affect competition, internet affordability and city fund forecasts. NextLight’s debt payoff and subscriber mix shape the utility’s ability to invest in redundancy and customer experience.

What to watch for next: Staff will return with operational details and continue outreach efforts; the council budget calendar will determine future appropriations and any debt-related fund changes.