City of Alexandria solicits to grant a non-exclusive franchise(s) for use of the public rights-of-way for providing telecommunications services within the city

The City is accepting franchise proposals from companies seeking use of the City’s public rights-of-ways to design, install, provide, operate, maintain, repair, control, upgrade, construct and remove a fiber network for the purpose of providing Telecommunications Services (not cable services) within the City. The companies’ responses should be in the form of a proposed franchise agreement based on the City’s documents and proposed franchise agreement as adopted by City Council at the June 15, 2024 public hearing. The proposals are to be submitted via e-mail or regular mail by July 15, 2024, 3 p.m. EST to Lalit Sharma (lalit.sharma@alexandriava.gov) or Lalit Sharma, 301 King Street, Suite 4100, Alexandria, Virginia 22314.  

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The City is constructing its own fiber backbone infrastructure (broadband network) to support broadband services among the City's public institutions, including schools, libraries, public safety buildings, and other City facilities.  The current institutional network, or " I-Net," which was the first network of its kind in Virginia, now connects nearly 90 municipal and educational facilities and is largely leased from Comcast.

Because digging and burying conduit is a significant cost of building a fiber network, the City is taking all reasonable opportunities to lay conduit wherever current digging projects are already underway and align with the municipal fiber construction. This approach strives to avoid unnecessary impacts on neighborhoods and businesses. 

Digital connectivity, particularly access to high-speed or broadband internet, is essential to success in the 21st century. By being connected to the internet, residents have access to a wide range of resources, services, and products.  Individually, the internet is used to complete schoolwork, research and apply for jobs, pay bills, access healthcare information, make appointments, communicate with friends and family, work remotely, and much more. Not only does access to the internet improve the lives of individuals, it also can improve economic conditions of communities.

The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) created unprecedented challenges for City of Alexandria residents, widening the gap of economic inequities. The digital divide, as represented by households without devices, internet access, or knowledge of how to use technology, has disproportionately impacted many of our communities. At the beginning of the pandemic, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) identified 10-15% of its student lacking internet access and had to quickly seek devices and access to allow for virtual learning, highlighting the necessity of internet access for education at all levels.

As a result, the City identified funding through the American Rescue Plan Act and is now undertaking the development of a Digital Equity Plan to understand the digital needs throughout the City and then prioritize how to invest in bridging this digital divide. The plan will also help the City launch digital literacy innovation programs and test new ways to provide technology and support in high-need communities.

Findings from the plan serve as a framework for the City and its partners, including Computer Core, to address needs around Internet Access, Digital Literacy, Reliability and Speed, and Affordability. The plan can be viewed here.

Updates

• May 2023: PRR completed the plan and, with City Staff, presented findings to the City’s IT Commission.
• February 2023: PRR conducted a series of five focus groups at local public facilities such as library or recreation center conference rooms:
  • 2/7/23 – English language group 1 (9 participants)
  • 2/8/23 – English language group 2 [60+ group] (10 participants)
  • 2/9/23 – Spanish language group (11 participants)
  • 2/13/23 – Amharic language group (10 participants)
  • 2/15/23 – Arabic language group (9 participants)
• November 2022: PRR began administration of the survey, specifically aiming to hear from households that are low-income, non-english speaking, and seniors. The survey is being conducted in multiple languages and being distributed widely through community-based organizations. The survey can also be found online.
• September 2022: The City selected PRR as a contractor to develop a Digital Equity Plan. The plan aims to identify the need for digital literacy opportunities, device access, and internet access and then provide recommendations based on these needs. The scope of work includes the development and administration of a survey and focus group sessions. These efforts will be conducted in partnership with community-based organizations.

• Broadband Infrastructure Construction Costs
• Cable Franchise (Comcast) Frequently Asked Questions
• Verizon FiOS Frequently Asked Questions
• Contact us about Municipal Broadband