City Council
MEETING DATE: 6/14/2017
TITLE:
Title
RIVCOconnect Supporting Resolution
End
FROM:
Tami E. Scott, Administrative Services Director
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a Resolution setting forth support for and participation in the Riverside County Countywide Broadband Fiber to the Premise Master Plan and “RIVCOconnect” Initiative.
Body
BACKGROUND:
On September 20, 2016, the County of Riverside adopted Resolution number 2016-197, which set forth the Riverside County Broadband Master Plan and the RIVCOconnect Initiative, which can be seen at www.rivcoconnect.com <http://www.rivcoconnect.com>.
The RIVCOconnect effort is being led by Riverside County Information Technology (RCIT) under the direction of Chief Data Officer Tom Mullin. RIVCOconnect seeks to remove the roadblocks that obstruct internet service providers from building out the current infrastructure to 21st century capabilities.
On April 3, 2017, Riverside County issued a Request for Participants (RFP) to invite the private sector, either incumbent vendors or business entities new to the City and County, to work in cooperation and create partnerships to deliver affordable Broadband services throughout the Cities and unincorporated areas of Riverside County at speeds of up to one Gigabit of data transferred per second (Gbps) and above. The participant submittal deadline is August 15, 2017.
It is not intended that this new broadband infrastructure and service will be owned and operated by the County of Riverside, or any other city or public agency. Rather, the goal is to create the conditions of the largest such high-speed broadband network in the country. This initiative paves the way for economic growth, technological advancement, and the opportunity to close the Digital Divide within Riverside County.
Cathedral City is a member of the Inland Empire Regional Broadband Consortium ("IERBC") that formed in February 2012, or www.ierbroadband.com <http://www.ierbroadband.com>. In November 2014, IERBC adopted the Inland Empire Broadband and Infrastructure and Access Plan, in which Riverside County participated and references IERBC's Plan its Broadband Master Plan. IERBC fully supports, an includes, RIVCOconnect initiative in its outreach efforts to improve broadband speeds, service, affordability, and to close the Digital Divide in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Council received a presentation on RIVCOconnect and discussed the project in study session on May 24, 2017.
DISCUSSION:
The RIVCOconnect Program is a collaborative effort that calls for the development of expedited permitting procedures, providing cost effective locations for broadband equipment (fiber shelters, cabinets, pole boxes, curbside utility vaults, etc.) and “dig once” policies, while offering incentives such as aggregation of demand, anchor tenancy, and affordable high-speed internet rates.
It is the goal of RIVCOconnect that this service be provided to all residents at an affordable cost, one that allows all residents to access high-speed connections to information, entertainment, health care, government services, employment opportunities, and educational growth.
RIVCOconnect goals in summary are:
•Universal access to high-speed information and technology for the purposes of employment, education, public safety, healthcare, entertainment, business and governmental assistance.
•Affordable access to high-speed Broadband networks Countywide, regardless of economic or geographical status.
•Bridging the Digital Divide and bringing Riverside County to new heights in economic development, business climate and educational innovations.
Attached is a proposed Resolution for Council consideration to support and endorse the Riverside County Broadband Master Plan and the RIVCOconnect program for the benefit of the community, as well as, commit to work cooperatively with the County as the program moves forward.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None
ATTACHMENTS:
•Proposed Resolution setting forth Cathedral City's support for the Riverside County Broadband Master Plan
•Riverside County Broadband Master Plan