broadband: CTGig - Municipal Fiber Network Project

CTGig - Municipal Fiber Network Project

January 25, 2016 –  Consumer Counsel Elin Swanson Katz today released a report entitled, "A Brief Overview of Broadband Deficiencies in Connecticut,” detailing challenges faced by Connecticut businesses, hospitals, community service providers, and residents in obtaining adequate, reliable, and reasonably priced broadband services.


December 1, 2015 - CSBO's Vallee presented CTgig Powerpoint to Manchester Brd of Directors discussing the plan being prepared to support the CTgig Project. Video starts at 1hr, 16 mins- http://ow.ly/VqK56

CT-N Video of :
      Office of Consumer Counsel & City of New Haven Forum:
                                 Moving Toward a Gigabit State  
Most viewers find Internet Explorer works best . . .       
                 http://ct-n.com/ondemand.asp?ID=11499
                          Then,  "Watch Now"  and click on  "To Watch This Video in Windows Media Format"
Moving Toward a Gigabit State Agenda    (with timings for speakers on CT-N video):
      (Date Recorded: 5/4/2015) -   Length: 4 hr 30 min 

Moving Toward a Gigabit State - Speaker PowerPoints

             Broadband Communities Magazine, January-February 2015
               Economic Development -  Gigabits Across Connecticut
   By Bill Vallée, Connecticut Broadband Policy Coordinator, Office of Consumer Counsel
The Connecticut state government is spearheading a public-private project to improve the business climate by helping municipalities improve their broadband options.
Click for  Digital Issue http://bbcmag.epubxp.com/i/460744/54

See Latest News:

Forty-six Connecticut municipalities, representing 50% of the state’s population, have joined the effort for Connecticut to lead the nation as the first gigabit state through public-private partnerships. 

“With this effort, Connecticut cities are again where they have been in other turning points in our country’s history: ahead of the curve and well-positioned to reap the benefits of the information age economy.”  Blair Levin, Executive Director of Gig.U.

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On September 15, 2014, a collaboration of Connecticut municipalities issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) soliciting information and partnerships with potential providers to create Gig networks in their communities.  Over 40 municipalities have joined the RFQ with the aim of soliciting information from potential providers of financing, fiber network construction and management, and Internet service providers of retail services.  It is hoped that this effort could lead to the issuance of RFPs to create public-private partnerships resulting in open-access fiber networks in many Connecticut municipalities providing a variety of competitive Internet-based services to residents, businesses, and community anchor institutions.
 
RFQ Documents:
 
 
For further information about this project, contact:
 

Bill Vallee

CT Broadband Policy & Programs Coordinator

Office of Consumer Counsel

10 Franklin Square

New Britain, CT 06051

860-827-2905

cell 860-716-7177

william.vallee@ct.gov

www.ct.gov/OCC

 

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Residents, businesses, and municipalities in Connecticut are demanding cheaper, faster, more reliable Internet services because such services are an essential tool for high-tech industry, bioscience, health care, education, and any other industry or business that works with large amounts of data.

The current average Internet speed in Connecticut of 9 megabits per second (Mbps) is too slow for many current needs and applications, and hinders progress, growth, and innovation in numerous areas, including business, education, and e-government.

Other parts of the country (and other parts of the world) are seeing the development of ultra-high-speed gigabit “Gig” networks of 1000 Mbps with prices of $70/month or lower, but there are none in Connecticut and only two municipal Gig networks being developed in New England.
Industry and government have successfully created public-private partnerships to develop Gig networks in other states.

The RFQ has three goals:
 
* Create a world leading gigabit capable network in targeted commercial corridors as well as in residential areas with demonstrated demand in order to foster innovation, drive job creation and stimulate economic growth.

* Provide free or heavily discounted 10-100 MB (minimum) Internet service over a wired or wireless network to underserved and disadvantaged residential areas across the territories and diverse demographics.

* Deliver gigabit Internet service as prices comparable to other gigabit fiber communities across the nation.

* Prospective companies must submit their applications by January 15, 2015. This RFQ presents an opportunity for Connecticut to remain at the forefront of broadband technology.
The RFQ process does not involve any legal or financial commitment on the part of a municipality. The municipalities intend to be infrastructure and policy partners only, contributing in-kind assets and support, and do not intend to act as retail service providers or network operators.
 
The RFQ, with instructions for submitting a municipal referendum, is available online at http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/PurchasingBureauOnline/index.asp. (Note that a user may sign on with a phone number in lieu of a tax ID number).

Relevant documents, including the RFQ, Addendums of the three cities, a press release, and recent news articles, can also be viewed at the Office of Consumer Counsel’s website at www.ct.gov/occ .
 
 

 
 
 
 

 



Content Last Modified on 1/25/2016 3:08:06 PM