Atlanta Issues City Wide WiFi RFP

Yesterday at the Muniwireless Conference in Silicon Valley CA, Abe Kani, Chief Information Officer for the City of Atlanta, announced the City of Atlanta is actively seeking a public/private partnership to deploy an affordable wireless network throughout the City’s 132 square miles at no cost to the City.

Wireless Atlanta will provide low-cost high-speed Internet access to residents, businesses, and visitors anytime and anywhere within the city. The City will also be able to use the network for mobile connectivity, strengthening public safety and streamlining government operations.

Mayor Shirley Franklin cast a new vision for the City at the start of her second term. The Wireless Atlanta initiative will help achieve the Mayor’s Vision for the City by improving the quality of life, promoting tourism and economic development, and leapfrogging city service levels.

“The Wireless Atlanta initiative will add tremendous value to our citizens, businesses and visitors with no use of taxpayer dollars…” said Abe Kani, Chief Information Officer. “The network will strengthen the quality of life for citizens and strengthen public safety through innovative applications.”

The request for proposal (RFP) sets forth the specifications of the broadband network, addressing issues including the network’s business model and services, coverage area, open access policies, network infrastructure, customer services, security and privacy, as well as contributions the network provider will make regarding the other important elements of the Wireless Atlanta strategy.

The RFP requires that no tax dollars be used to fund the capital or operating expenses of the network. Companies that respond are also encouraged to commit to launching and supporting community technology programs to close the digital divide.

Today’s RFP issuance begins a 60-day process to determine how the City will achieve affordable wireless broadband access throughout the City of Atlanta. Interested parties can visit and monitor the Wireless Atlanta webpage and download the RFP and other documents at http://apps.atlantaga.gov/wirelessatlanta/.