Council and City Staff are actively looking into emerging technologies like 5G connectivity, and other broadband technologies that will fit the needs of the city now and well into the future. The bipartisan infrastructure bill that passed the Senate on Tuesday, August 10, 2021, directs $65 billion toward extending broadband networks to people who can’t access them or afford them. The bill contains $1 billion for enabling the build-out of “middle mile” broadband infrastructure, which provides the bridge between the internet backbone and local “last mile” connections that bring service to each household. The bill also allocates $600 million to help states and localities create new ways to finance broadband projects.
At the moment the city has received one unsolicited proposal from a technology consultant and multiple exploratory communications from broadband service providers for advisory services related to 5G and broadband expansion projects referred to by the infrastructure bill. Council and City staff will continue to weigh their options regarding these projects, but no decisions have been made at this point.