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Awaiting fiber's future
More than 100 firms express interest in providing Palo Altans with high-speed Internet access

by Becky Trout

Broadband fiber may actually make it to Palo Alto homes, despite years of debate and delay. Companies interested in constructing and operating a network capable of providing Palo Alto residents with high-speed access have until Nov. 28 to submit a proposal to the city.

More than 100 companies have expressed interest, but no proposals have been received yet, said Kathy Bradley, the city's contract manager for the project.

The request for proposals leaves most of the details up to the companies but requires a 100-megabit per second service, data, video and telephony capabilities, and city ownership of the physical system. In January, the City Council gave the green light to solicit bids from potential network operators. The proposal details were ironed out over the summer and the request was released Sept. 27, Bradley said.

The proposal also emphasizes the city's aversion to financial risk and intent to promote competition between service providers.

Although anyone can download the request for proposals from the city's Web site, firms that have expressed interest in the project include AT&T, Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Motorola and Verizon, according to a city spreadsheet.

The city gained a reputation as a communications leader in 1998 when it constructed a fiber network, called a ring due to its circular configuration, to provide Palo Alto businesses with high-speed connections.

Then, in October 2001, 70 residents in the Community Center neighborhood were given the option to try out fiber-to-the-home. The council discontinued the trial in December 2005, and the city's efforts to bring the system to all residents seemed stalled.

But in January, the council, over the no-vote of Councilwoman LaDoris Cordell, urged staff to draft a plan for private companies to accept most of the responsibility for broadband fiber installation and operation. In an e-mail, Cordell said Monday she is not opposed to fiber-to-the-home, she just doesn't feel it should be a top city priority right now.

It is possible the city could choose to push back the deadline if bidders appear rushed, Bradley said, although there is no indication now that may be necessary. Then, a review team proposed by city staff and approved by the City Council will review the applications and select finalists, Bradley said. If all goes well, a network manager could be selected by February 2007, she said.

"We'll see what comes in," said longtime fiber activist Martin Lee, who expressed guarded optimism about the city's fiber future.

Fiber-optic cables have the ability to transmit large amounts of data at high speeds.