The city of Breckenridge recently released its Request for Interest (RFI) as city officials search for ISPs interested in delivering services via their future publicly-owned fiber network. Community Networks reported responses are due November 26.
The city’s population of 5,000 year-round residents swells to upwards of 36,000 with visitors, overtaxing internet and mobile service in the mountain town. Since 2016, when voters opted out of SB 152, the city began exploring ways to improve their local connectivity.
The city has already partnered with Foresite Group to develop an open-access network in order to bring the connectivity businesses and residents need; Breckenridge officials now seek a partner to fill the role of “fiber infrastructure provider” by developing a dark fiber network that will extend to all premises citywide.
The city has determined that Breckenridge will deploy the network in two phases with phase one scheduled for kick-off in mid-2019 and slated for completion in 2021. It will connect between 1,000 to 2,000 end users in the first year. The first phase is estimated to cost $8 million and funding has already been approved by the Town Council. The city hopes to finish the entire project sometime in 2022 but phase two costs have not yet been determined.
The city hopes to use fiber to improve cell service for visitors in addition to smart city applications and niche service, reported Community Networks. The deadline for questions on the RFI is November 16 with responses due November 26.
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November 16, 2018
