In a request for information (RFI) released Monday, Napa County seeks more detail on a “broadband deployment project” that would ultimately stand up “broadband infrastructure and broadband services throughout 13 designated areas across the county.” Home to about 140,000 residents, Napa, with Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties, makes up Northern California’s wine country. At approximately 748 square miles, Napa County is among the smaller by area of the state’s 58 counties; but officials there have identified a need for broadband access across “all sectors,” according to the RFI. Among the takeaways:
- While critical to the county’s “continued social welfare and economic prosperity,” some of the 13 county areas are near high-speed broadband from current Internet service providers but lack broadband and “in some cases there is no availability of Internet at any speeds.” The county is doing this RFI to “provide access to affordable high-speed broadband service to all residents and businesses throughout the 13 areas,” which include remote regions. Its baseline will be an effort to “finitely identify and analyze the underserved and unserved areas within each area and develop the most effective technical solution for that area.” Napa wants to identify a business model that will meet the private sector’s financial needs so that it will be “incented to build and operate broadband networks in the underserved and unserved areas.” The RFI is aimed at determining private-sector companies’ “interest, qualifications, experience, and expertise” around working with the county to deliver broadband to underserved and unserved areas. The county indicates it can help in identifying low interest loan funding and seeking state and federal grants, offering access to community resources and rights of way, expediting permitting and “any other reasonable effort needed to support the private sector.”
- The county’s preferred technology for the infrastructure is “Fiber-to-the-Premise (FTTP),” according to the RFI, but officials realize that due to low population density and “unfavorable” geography, some areas may initially need “alternative technology solutions to achieve universal high-speed broadband service.” Because of this, Napa will consider “hybrid fiber/wireless solutions and last-mile fixed wireless solutions,” but both should be considered a “stop gap” and the areas using these methods should nevertheless be designed for FTTP to avoid further design costs during its deployment. The county’s preferred architecture is underground cabling and fire-resistant vaults, cabinets and hubs where needed, to safeguard against heat damage, including by fire, in accordance with the California Public Utilities Commission’s Broadband Factors for Last-Mile Connectivity publication. Broadband installed must have speeds of at least 100 (megabits per second) Mbps download/100 Mbps upload and have low latency and universal service across all areas. The county wants to hear how IT companies would respond to the county goal of delivering a solution that meets resident and business needs based on the forecast for future demand and an architecture sustainable for 10 years or more. It wants to hear what areas the private sector will consider for deployment and what solutions it believes are viable; input will be “critical” to helping the county create a high-speed broadband strategy. The county realizes there may not be a single solution that works across all counties. Responses from “all potential private-sector partners” are welcome including from incumbent service providers, “electric and telecom cooperatives,” and other interested entities; working together to respond is encouraged.
- Program requirements include being able to build high-speed Internet infrastructure that will meet current usage needs but also be set up to deliver to future Internet demand. The county has no desire to either own or operate the network. Respondents should identify the type of service proposed for each of the 13 county areas. Respondents should specify the level and type of support needed from the county or others around operating and maintaining broadband service to unserved or underserved populations, and to meet the capital requirements in low-population or geographically arduous areas. Respondents should also indicate how the network will be designed for rising demand; specify the services their company offers; and delineate its experience building, maintaining and operating broadband service, including experience in working with the public sector and providing broadband to low population and geographically challenging areas.
- Once responses have been reviewed, Napa County reserves the option of “continuing to participate in a single area solution,” choosing the direction deemed in the area’s best interest, or canceling or delaying any further action. This RFI may or may not yield a request for proposals. Questions are due by 5 p.m. Monday and responses will be published April 24. Responses to the RFI are due by 5 p.m. May 1.
