Fiber Strategy Standard

CU Boulder has hundreds of miles of fiber optics that are used as the backbone of network data connectivity across the campus. In order to properly manage the fiber assets, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) in 2016 implemented a policy requiring all fiber on the Boulder campus to be managed and owned by the University. The reasoning for this policy is to improve connectivity for critical resources and to manage the fiber in the aggregate versus numerous point solutions implemented by OIT, other departments and other third parties.

Documentation and guidance for the provision of connectivity for third parties is listed below. It is acknowledged some exceptions to this policy exist either due to being grandfathered and/or where it would be impractical for OIT to provide the fiber. The guidelines are:

  1. External entities (wireless carriers, etc.) should request connectivity through CU Boulder’s Real Estate Services (RES) wireless carrier cell site application form.
  2. A demarcation point is established on campus where 3rd parties may terminate their fiber connections and then utilize CU Boulder’s campus fiber to reach the terminating location.
  3. If sufficient fiber does not exist to support the 3rd party request, the CU Boulder will either ask the requestor to implement a capital improvement utilizing campus right of way (ROW) and deed the fiber to the University or CU Boulder will make the necessary improvements and recoup the investment through a monthly fiber charge.
  4. CU Boulder reserves the right to outsource fiber allocation through a 3rd party fiber provider.
  5. Standard rate for one-off fiber requests is $250 per pair per month per segment. This pricing is for where adequate fiber exists and includes a claw-back clause in the unlikely event the University fiber is exhausted and could trigger a capital investment in adding incremental fiber. Note, this rate can change over time if cost escalate.
  6. For entities requiring a defined service level, OIT will work in collaboration with the third party to provide 24x7 access to critical network connectivity points requiring Service Level Agreements (SLA’s).