Little did Brooks know that his prescient decision would bear fruit in the form of gigabit-speed Internet coming in the foreseeable future to Oxnard, whose 200,000 residents make it Ventura County’s most populous city. It also gives city leaders something to tout when trying to retain existing businesses and recruit new ones, Brooks told Techwire in an interview.
“This network will be the foundational infrastructure investment for the city that will provide high-speed Internet services for businesses and residents, as well as countless modern smart city initiatives,” he said in a city news release. City officials note that those developments could ultimately improve the city’s businesses, health-care institutions, education, economic development and the implementation of smart city and IoT (Internet of Things) devices.
Oxnard’s fiber-optic network extends for more than 35 miles throughout the city and is used to connect traffic signals, city facilities and internal city services.
This month, the city contracted with Denver-based Magellan Advisors to perform a market analysis and make strategic recommendations to the city on building out a high-speed fiber optic Internet overlay. Santa Ana-based Iteris will do a thorough inventory of city assets and advise on which of those assets can play a role in the fiber-optic expansion.
Once a financial analysis is done, the city will decide which way to go with its beefed-up digital capacity.
“The ‘every home and business’ approach is one way,” said Kevin Pisacich, the manager of communications and security systems for the city. “We’re looking more to the phase-driven approach,” beginning with businesses and institutions and then possibly branching out to a residential offering. We’re really excited about that approach.
“We’re looking at public-private partnership opportunities,” Pisacich continued. “We’re looking for a good design, a good model. … The focus is initially on business first, then economic development.”
Brooks said the eight-month Magellan study period will give city officials time to target potential first customers and to plan the rollout in phases. The city has several options.
“Some cities have taken the route where the city has become the ISP and charged for a connection. Some have an open-access model and partner with other ISPs,” he said.
Between now and then, Brooks said, vendors might want to sharpen their pencils and stay tuned for RFPs.
“After eight months, we may need a design-build vendor when we get to the RFP stage,” he said.
Brooks and Pisacich provided answers to some bottom-line questions of interest to vendors:
- Anticipated opportunities for vendors? "The goal is to outline phases of the fiber expansion and rollout that we can act on immediately."
- How should vendors approach you? “Vendors can contact Kevin and myself directly via email and phone.” Brooks’ email is brooks@oxnard.org, and his phone is (805) 385-7597. Pisacich’s email is kevin.pisacich@oxnard.org, and his phone is (805) 385-7551.
- The best way to stay abreast of Oxnard’s RFPs and other opportunities: "In addition to emailing and calling, vendors can also keep an eye on www.oxnard.org/rfps for any posted RFPs."
