Broadband

Fiber optic cables The Broadband Master Plan addresses the area’s internet access for residents and commercial entities.
The City intends to use the plan to prioritize fiber network expansion for:

Public facilities and ensure continuous connectivity and resilience for public safety, emergency response and other essential City functions;
Improve commercial access to increase the area’s economic competitiveness to attract and retain industry; and
Address the digital divide by increasing high-speed internet access for low-income and underserved communities

The second phase is underway with the award of a $493,936 grant by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to create broadband access for the unserved and underserved resident and business communities within the City of Vacaville. The Local Agency Technical Assistance (LATA) Grant supports local agencies and tribes in their efforts to expand broadband service to these communities in California. Approved by Senate Bill 156, the program offers a $50 million budget for grants to local agencies and tribes for planning work that will facilitate high-speed broadband infrastructure projects.

The City recently submitted an application for the Last-Mile Federal Funding Account (FFA) grant, administered by the CPUC, for $10,548,070.23. The FFA grant is a $2 billion grant program for last-mile broadband infrastructure projects to connect unserved Californians. According to the CPUC and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), unserved is defined as a location without any broadband service at all or with internet service offering speeds below 25/3 Mbps, and an underserved location is one without broadband service offering speeds of 100/20 Mbps. This planned 29+ mile fiber optic network is predominantly located below grade in conduit and will pass more than 3,300 unserved Vacaville addresses, which represents approximately half of the unserved addresses in Solano County.

Seeking RFP for Fiber Optic Network Public-Private Partnership

The City of Vacaville is seeking proposals from one or more qualified private parties to enter into a public-private partnership with the City to expand business and residential broadband access using a planned upgrade of the City’s carrier-grade, redundant backbone ring fiber network (InetV2) and the state middle-mile network (Golden State Net) along U.S. Highways 80 and 505.

The application window is now closed, and staff is currently reviewing each proposal. Please continue checking this webpage for updates.

View questions and answers to the RFP.

Defining Broadband

Broadband is a term used to describe any high-speed Internet access used that enables wireless and/or wireline connectivity to cell phones, computers, tablets and other devices.

As online dependency continues to increase, broadband will become an even more important component to equip the City, residents and local businesses with the services they need to compete and thrive in the digital economy.

Awarded Grants

Phase I

On May 19th, 2021 the City of Vacaville was awarded the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant for $187,500 to fund the City of Vacaville Broadband Master Plan. Matching funds of $62,500 have already been budgeted as a requirement for the grant.

The EDA award supports the Authorized Scope of Work for this project which includes:

Develop a comprehensive request for proposals for the procurement of a consultant to prepare a City of Vacaville-Broadband Master Plan.
Contract with selected consultant.
Prepare and develop a comprehensive Citywide Broadband Master Plan document which includes identification of existing infrastructure and provide recommendations and requirements for the City to undertake for the construction of a complete and fully functional broadband/fiber optic rings system. This master plan document will be the basis for implementing the actual construction and buildout of the required infrastructure.

Phase II

The Local Agency Technical Assistance (LATA) grant award is from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to be used for the Digital Infrastructure Design and Implementation Plan associated with the City’s Broadband Masterplan efforts.

This second phase will bridge the gap between the City’s Broadband Master Plan, now completed, and position the City to pursue construction of a local, publicly-owned fiber backbone. This design will leverage the state's middle-mile network by connecting in at least two points to create a resilient fiber network to meet the needs of unserved and underserved citizens and businesses within the City of Vacaville. This six-month project would make the city shovel-ready, and one step closer to realizing its vision: to flexibly connect the citizens of Vacaville with their city and the world. To view the staff report related to the LATA Grant, please click here.

Partnerships

Magellan Entrust was selected to develop Phase I, a Broadband Master Plan to guide the construction, implementation, maintenance, management, regulation, operation and funding of the City’s broadband assets. Magellan’s plan provides details about available infrastructure and a gap analysis, along with recommendations for routes and locations for a fiber and/or wireless buildout to pave the City’s digital highway.

Master Plan Development

The development of a Broadband Master Plan will provide data on existing public and private infrastructure, and increase coordination among City departments and external stakeholders. City and Magellan Advisors staff members will engage with businesses and residents over the coming months to request feedback about bandwidth services currently deployed. The plan will be based, in part, on this feedback, and will include a transparent process to identify and prioritize opportunities to expand broadband access and position the City to maximize the community benefits of future public private partnerships.

Timeline

Phase I of the Broadband Master Plan was completed in September 30, 2022, and Phase II completed in July 2024. The City is currently reviewing proposals from qualified private parties to enter into a public-private partnership with the City to expand business and residential broadband access using a planned upgrade of the City’s carrier-grade, redundant backbone ring fiber network (InetV2) and the state middle-mile network (Golden State Net) along U.S. Highways 80 and 505.

RFP Questions and Answers

When did the City make the announcement for the reopening?

When is the deadline?

Where do I submit the RFP?

Why did the City reopen the RFP for Fiber Optic Network Public-Private Partnership?

When did the original RFP post and how long was the submittal timeframe?

Why did the original RFP have such a brief timeframe?

Was the City awarded the Last-Mile Grant?

What was the amount that the City requested for the Last-Mile Grant?

Will the City pursue the project if the Last-Mile Grant is not awarded?

Will the private partner be required to finance part of the project?

The City seeks respondents that can contribute private broadband assets to leverage and is willing to provide match funding for federal and state grants. The City prefers a qualified partner(s) with the ability to permit, construct, and contribute to the project, either through capital or an in-kind contribution, and will evaluate proposals based on the criteria within this RFP that emphasizes the contribution from potential partnering organizations. For more information, please review the Grant Funding and Scope of Work sections found in the RFP.

Are there any active grants the City has applied for recently?

Will the private partner be required to build the entire project?

Will the previous respondents of the original RFP need to resubmit their proposals?

Are there any files (GIS, CAD, etc.) available to review the planned network?

Does the city have any preferred micro-trench specifications to use on Broadband projects?

How do I subscribe to receive the City’s broadband updates?

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