Boulder-based C-Com Affinity Telecom has been tapped to develop a vast wireless broadband network for 10 metro-area municipalities.

Colorado Wireless Communities chose C-Com, which has no wireless experience, over six other bidders, including MetroFi, which has developed networks in California and Portland, Ore.

The project is to cover Arvada, Boulder, Broomfield, Golden, Lakewood, Louisville, Northglenn, Superior, Thornton and Wheat Ridge.

Clark Johnson, an assistant Arvada city manager, said the Colorado Wireless Communities board unanimously decided Monday to sign a letter of intent with C-Com. He said the parties have 120 days to negotiate a contract, and it's likely to take another 18 months to build the network.

"We're really excited that we found a vendor we want to work with, and it's exciting, too, that it's a local company," Johnson said. He described C-Com as presenting a "strong, aggressive plan" that went beyond Internet services.

C-Com, which provides telephone and Internet services to more than 3,000 residential and business customers, has been rated among the cheapest long-distance providers in Colorado.

CEO Fred Chernow said C-Com plans to overcome its lack of wireless experience by working with BelAir Networks, a Toronto equipment maker that has helped build wireless networks in London and Minneapolis. Chernow indicated a network of 137 square miles would cost between $10 million and $15 million.

Chernow said C-Com's assessment was that Internet services weren't enough to make the project financially viable, but that the project would work if C-Com also sold local telephone services.

C-Com plans to offer high-speed Internet services (1.5 megabits a second) for as low as $14.99 a month. Local telephone service would cost $13 a month and include features such as caller ID.

If so, the offerings would provide stiff competition for Qwest Communications and Comcast, whose rates are higher.