Internet service providers have four extra working weeks to respond to a request for quotes to provide universal broadband access to residents of the City of Gonzales, in California’s Salinas Valley. Following requests from potential respondents for extra time to submit quotes, and an inadvertent glitch that delayed answers to some of the questions they submitted, the City extended the deadline for responses to 22 December 2017.
That means the offers won’t be due on Cyber Monday, 27 November 2017, but that was a coincidental, albeit cool, deadline to begin with.
Several companies submitted questions, mostly looking for market data or information about the City of Gonzales’ expectations, assets and permit processes. Links to the two sets of questions and answers are below.
The City’s objective is to deliver a baseline of Internet access to everyone who lives in Gonzales. In return for a bulk monthly fee paid by the City, the selected ISP will deliver a specified level of service to every home in town. The RFQ specs that baseline level at 6 Mbps download and 1.5 Mbps upload speeds, but companies can structure their responses as they choose. And offer higher levels of service on a commercial basis, if they want.
The new timeline calls for a decision and a contract in February.
Addendum #1 to Request for Quotes for Bulk Residential Broadband Internet Access Services In the City of Gonzales, California, November 20, 2017.
Addendum #2 to Request for Quotes for Bulk Residential Broadband Internet Access Services In the City of Gonzales, California, November 22, 2017.
Request for Quotes for Bulk Residential Broadband Internet Access Services In the City of Gonzales, California, 7 November 2017 (Word version).
Request for Quotes for Bulk Residential Broadband Internet Access Services In the City of Gonzales, California, 7 November 2017 (PDF version).
I’m assisting the City of Gonzales with its broadband initiative. I am not a disinterested commentator. Take it for what it’s worth.