Connectivity fee to be discontinued

Beginning July 2024, the connectivity fee charged to auxiliary units by the Office of Information Technology (OIT) will be discontinued. In its place, the existing general recharge rates (GAIR) will be increased to support connectivity expenses.

Why this matters

The new approach will simplify the billing process and reduce the administrative burden for impacted units across campus, while also modernizing the funding model and recognizing connectivity as a campus good.听This change is part of broader efforts to transform how we operate as a campus.

What you need to know

The change impacts auxiliary funds only. Sponsored research activities will not see a change.听

Only the generalized connectivity fee will be rolled into the GAIR charge. Specialized connectivity needs like ResNet and unit-specific projects (such as capital projects or room remodels) will still be billed separately, directly to the requesting department.

Review frequently asked questions

Connectivity is a broad term that refers to the provision of wired and wireless networking and voice services on the Boulder campus by the Office of Information Technology. (See , and pages for more information.)

All auxiliary activities on campus will see this change take effect July 1,听2024. There will be no changes to General Fund, Gift听or Sponsored Research speedtypes since the cost for such activities were and will continue to be covered by way of the central campus budget office.

The change in the connectivity model will eliminate the direct charge to auxiliary speedtypes. Costs associated with connectivity will be recovered through GAIR. Campus will then allocate general fund GAIR budget to support connectivity expenses incurred by OIT beginning in FY25. This change recognizes connectivity as a necessary, campus-wide 鈥渃ommon good.鈥

Special events and projects requiring additional connectivity services are not included in GAIR and will be billed separately. Visit for more details on auxiliary services.

The previous model for the Connectivity Recharge, developed more than a decade ago, was based on employee headcount. The primary cost drivers were related to the installation, maintenance, and support of basic phone and data jacks for employees. The ways employees and students use the campus wired and wireless systems have changed and evolved, as has the technology. Including connectivity in the GAIR charge ensures campus units contribute to the actual costs of providing wired and wireless services.

This change will eliminate the need for auxiliary staff to research and verify connectivity charges, reducing the administrative burden for auxiliary units and OIT alike.听

In addition, by eliminating individual recharges and rolling them into a single rate, OIT and 听BFP can let units know earlier how to adjust budgets, supporting single- and multi-year planning.听

Eliminating the distinct Connectivity Recharge will create a simplification of administration in OIT, freeing up FTE to support other campus-critical activities.

Effective July 1, 2024 (FY25) units will no longer see a direct charge on the connectivity account code and the GAIR rate assessed will increase one quarter of a percent.

By applying the FY25 GAIR rate to FY24 expenses, units can see what the new connectivity impact would have been if applied to FY24. Any difference between actual charges and the FY25 GAIR rate impact is the change to connectivity. For assistance with this calculation, please email bfp@colorado.edu.

Yes. These charges were not previously included in the Connectivity Recharge and were billed directly to projects. That same practice will remain in place.

Yes. The elimination of the Connectivity Recharge is a first step in campuswide financial simplification efforts. This step lays the groundwork for future recharge elimination.听