RFP: Broadband Study Committee Last Mile Broadband Feasibility Study

Last Mile Broadband Feasibility Study

The Town of Fairhaven (town) recognizes that there is a critical need for an affordable, accessible and reliable last mile fiber optic infrastructure or broadband infrastructure to support its future economic development and the quality of life of its citizens. In December 2018, Fairhaven formed an Ad Hoc Municipal Fiber Study Committee. One of the Committee’s primary responsibilities is to “study the feasibility,benefits and costs of a municpally owned and operated town wide fiber optic system that would deliver electronic content to residents and businesses in a manner that both enhances services andcontrols cost.”

This Request for Proposal (RFP) is to invite qualified vendors (respondents) with expertise in developing broadband feasibility studies, fiber technology or other broadband infrastructure and last mile broadband network design and engineering, and analyzing municipal fiber network models to submit proposals to develop an actionable broadband feasibility study for the Town of Fairhaven.

The purpose of the feasibility study is to help the Town understand Fairhaven’s last mile broadband infrastructure options. The physical scope of the feasibility study is limited to the Fairhaven town limits. The study requires an assessment of the current state of broadband infrastructure and services, development of a community engagement/education plan, a high-level broadband engineering design, and recommendations for the broadband model options that Fairhaven needs to consider. The primary deliverable that Fairhaven is expecting from the feasibility study is an actionable plan that will guide its next steps in deploying an affordable, accessible, and reliable broadband infrastructure.