City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: FEBRUARY 15, 2022
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
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Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of Ordinances to Grant Right-Of-Way Franchises to Ting, Inc., and Lumos Telephone, Inc. For Broadband Services.
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ISSUE: Consideration of two proposed ordinances to grant a broadband franchise to use the public right-of-way and other City property, for the design, construction, installation, maintenance, repair, upgrade, removal, and operation of a broadband network in the City of Alexandria to:
1. Ting, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tucows Inc.; and
2. Lumos Telephone, Inc
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council consider the franchise ordinances on first reading and schedule then for second reading, public hearing and final passage on Saturday, March 12, 2022.
DISCUSSION: On November 13, 2021, City Council adopted an ordinance to solicit proposals for a franchise to use the City's right-of-way to construct and provide broadband services to City residents. On January 11, 2022, City Council announced that there were four companies who responded to the City's request for proposal for a broadband network. These broadband companies are Lumos Telephone, Inc. ("Lumos"), National American Tower Company ("NATC"), Shentel, and Ting, Inc. ("Ting"). City Council referred the proposals to staff for further review of the proposals. Staff completed its review and determined that three of the companies' proposals met all the terms and conditions of the solicitation.
The proposals from Lumos, Shentel, and Ting met all the terms and conditions of the solicitation. Of these three, Lumos and Ting have agreed to continue with a franchise agreement. After discussion about the specific terms of the franchise agreement, Shentel dec...
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