The City of Pikeville, Kentucky has issued a request for information (RFI) to identify potential for-profit and non-profit entities interested in partnering with the City to develop a citywide fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network. The City is committed to enhancing broadband availability for all its businesses, residents, and anchor institutions. The proposed partnership also considers neighboring Coal Run Village in its projected “service area,” and anticipates eventually serving other portions of Pike County.

Go HERE to view the full RFI.

The Town of Wake Forest, NC has selected CTC Technology & Energy to develop a broadband feasibility study that will include high-level design and cost estimates to connect Town facilities and other points of interest. CTC’s analysts and engineers will conduct a needs assessment, examine the Town’s current broadband market and services, and evaluate the potential role of existing Town assets in enabling broadband. We will prepare a business case for fiber implementation in the Town, and develop and administer a request for information to gauge interest among potential private sector partners.

CTC will begin work with the City of Portland, OR to prepare a long-term fiber strategic and business plan that will evaluate the City’s current and future demand for broadband. CTC’s engineers and analysts will engage key City stakeholders from a range of public and private industries, and assess current infrastructure to evaluate the City’s broadband needs. Our team will work with City leadership to form a strategic plan, and to develop a dark fiber business model and sustainable business plan. Our analysis will include recommendations for FirstNet planning, enabling private-sector investment, and developing a cooperative governance structure to benefit all I-Net stakeholders.

The City of Hayward, CA has selected CTC to develop a high-level fiber optic network master plan to guide the City’s broadband efforts. CTC’s engineers will inventory the City’s existing systems and service availability, prepare conceptual fiber routes, and project associated costs. Our analysts will identify the City’s broadband needs, and consider a range of business and operational models that might support the City’s next steps for broadband implementation.

The City of Pharr, TX has selected CTC Technology & Energy to prepare a broadband strategic plan. Following a work-shop with the City and its key stakeholders to establish a strategic direction, CTC’s engineers and analysts will assess the City’s current broadband infrastructure and market, and evaluate current and future demand for broadband in Pharr. Our E-rate specialists will work with the City to develop a strategic approach to potential funding opportunities through the Schools and Libraries Program, and our analysts will evaluate other potential federal and regional funding mechanisms. The strategic plan will include engineering analysis and cost estimation for network implementation, and we will guide the City’s engagement with the private sector for potential partnership for network expansion.

CTC is proud to join other private companies and trade associations in opposing Colorado Senate Bill 136, which was delivered today to the members of the Colorado Senate’s State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.

The letter urges the legislators to reject the anti-competition legislation, which makes far more difficult local efforts to partner with the private sector to enable new broadband opportunities.

The letter notes that the proposed bill “would harm both the public and private sectors, retard economic growth, prevent the creation or retention of jobs around the State, particularly in rural areas, hamper work force development, and diminish the quality of life in Colorado.”

View the full letter HERE.

All of us at CTC extend our congratulations to our friends at the City and County of San Francisco on today’s announcement that Google Fiber will provide gigabit services to many consumers in San Francisco.

The City has worked tirelessly for over a decade to expand the availability of fiber-based services to both residences and businesses, and today’s announcement is a testament to those efforts to demonstrate the importance of the broadband speeds enabled by fiber optics — as well as a testament to the City’s efforts to attract private sector competition in broadband.

CTC is proud to have advised the City over more than a decade regarding expansion of its own fiber network, fiber optic dig once policies, and trends in the broadband market.