Longmont is one of the best places in the United States to work at home, thanks to the city’s NextLight municipal broadband service, according to PC Magazine. The magazine ranked Longmont as no. 17 on its list of the 20 best work-at-home cities, according to a city of Longmont news release..
“Longmont is a more affordable alternative to expensive Boulder, with 300 days of sunshine each year, a municipal fiber provider and an easy drive to both Boulder and Denver,” PC Magazine said in its writeup.
A resident quoted for the article also referenced the community’s downtown shops and restaurants, local breweries and availability of free public parking, according to a city of Longmont news release.
The magazine had repeatedly ranked NextLight itself among the fastest internet providers in the nation since 2018, the news release states. Last year PC Magazine placed NextLight at no. 3 in the U.S.
“With more people than ever working remotely, reliable and affordable high-speed internet is crucial to daily life,” said Valerie Dodd, NextLight’s executive director in the news release. “We’re proud to support Longmont’s residents and businesses with the quality service they need and are excited to see how they use NextLight’s fiber internet every day to work, learn and relax.”
PCMag analyst Chris Stobing grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and worked in New York, but now makes his home in Colorado. He has ‘vastly more’ space than he did in New York, and said the area is spectacular for outdoorsy types, with trail running, climbing studios, yoga, and snowboarding nearby, according to the news release.
Longmont Mayor Joan Peck said she is proud of the Top 20 recognition because it highlights both the advantages of city-owned fiber internet and the quality of municipal employees who have helped to create an incredible quality of life in Longmont, the news release states.
“Even though the coronavirus shut down our everyday routines, city of Longmont staff rolled up their sleeves and transitioned many city services online to keep serving our community,” Peck said in the news release. “From recreation fitness classes to permit applications and City Council meetings, we used technology to bring the city — and its essential services — into the homes and businesses in our community.”
The PCMag story can be found at:https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-best-work-from-home-cities-for-2022 .
