Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

 

TO:

David L. Corliss, City Manager

 

FROM:

Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager

 

DATE:

December 12, 2012

 

CC:

 

Cynthia Wagner, Assistant City Manager

RE:

Community Technology Infrastructure

 

Background:

A number of communities across the United States are taking an active interest in next-generation infrastructure to meet the growing demand for high speed internet and to ensure the global competitiveness of their residents and businesses in the new economy.  The Google Fiber project in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri is a regional example of this sort of effort.  There is also a range of involvement from the local government level in these projects.  Some cities have opted to completely own and operate their own fiber networks; some cities have a completely hands off approach and some cities have entered into various public-private partnerships to encourage greater service options and access to high speed technology infrastructure. 

 

The State of Kansas created a Kansas Statewide Broadband Initiative several years ago to examine the issue of access to broadband within the State.  The work of the Initiative set forth the importance of access to internet service as it relates to economic development, education and other important goals. While Lawrence is fortunate to have several broadband providers, the work of the Initiative points out how important keeping current with cutting edge technology is to our communities. 

 

Over the past few years, the City of Lawrence has installed a fiber backbone through Lawrence.  This backbone consists of fiber optics along N. 2nd Street/N. 3rd Street from the bridge to US 24/40, 6th Street from Massachusetts to Iowa Street, Iowa Street from 6th Street to 23rd Street, and 23rd Street from Iowa to Harper Street.  Additionally, the City controls an empty conduit that stretches from 6th Street west of the K-10 interchange to Wakarusa, along Wakarusa to Clinton Parkway, and Clinton Parkway/23rd Street east to the city limits on K-10.  The City also controls the traffic signals throughout the community, street lights in the downtown area and rights-of-way along city streets. 

 

Recently, the City of Seattle expressed its desire to enhance the community’s internet services and increase competition amongst service providers by leveraging its existing fiber optic network to entertain ideas from private providers to partner with the City. 

 

Staff Recommendation: 

 

In order to provide assistance to staff and the City Commission in evaluating the City’s assets in the area of technology infrastructure and assisting the City in evaluating possible opportunities to enhance the community’s access to high-speed internet options, staff suggests that the City Commission consider issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to gain the assistance of a consultant with expertise in this area.  The consultant could then assist the City with any other future steps that the City wished to pursue. 

 

Requested Action:   

 

Provide direction to staff, if appropriate.