City of Salem Issues Request for High-Speed Internet Fiber Provider

The City of Salem has issued a request for proposals (RFP) from companies interested in creating a city-wide fiber to the premises network capable of supplying at least 1 gigabyte high-speed internet to all residences and businesses.

The proposal specifically seeks companies with experience and capacity to install the infrastructure and maintain it, as well as prospective internet service providers ready to offer the service to customers. The proposal also spells out the requirements for installation of the network, including construction protocols and road restoration requirements. Installation methods that utilize existing infrastructure or micro-trenching are more highly rated in the request.

The City also is seeking “digital city” connection points that would enable Salem to install such components as smart street light and traffic signal controls, storm drain and catch basin flooding sensors, variable parking capacity signage, and more. Respondents are also being asked to provide discounted or free wireless internet access at the home for Salem public school students who live in Salem.

“For the last several years we have asked Verizon to consider expanding their FiOS service into Salem,” explained Mayor Kim Driscoll. “They’ve consistently declined, but every week we hear from Salem residents who want an alternative to their existing internet service provider choices. As more and more companies are beginning to offer competitive alternatives and they are reaching out about possibly coming to Salem, we thought it would be worthwhile to seek out a potential partner to install a high-speed fiber network. In addition to offering high-speed internet, a fiber network would also enable the City to carry out a number of innovative initiatives, thanks to the availability of connections throughout the community. We’ve designed this RFP to try to leverage that network to the greatest benefit for residents, businesses, and City operations.”

“I've been working for six years to try and expand the Internet and tv choices for Salem, and I'm thrilled that this work has gotten us to the point of having companies expressing interest in our city,” said Ward 5 City Councillor Josh Turiel, an IT professional who served on the City’s working group that developed the RFP. “Hopefully this process will culminate in better options for our citizens.”

The full RFP is now online at http://www.salem.com/purchasing/pages/open-procurements-ifb-rfp-rfq. Responses are due back to the City by September 8.