The City contracted with Suddenlink in 2014 to construct fiber between city facilities including City Hall, Police Department, Public Works, and the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Suddenlink owns the fiber and therefore is the only internet service provider the City can use. Suddenlink internet service for City operations are priced higher than other companies would charge, and the City cannot switch providers because we do not own the fiber between our buildings.

Staff began researching ways to reduce the cost of monthly internet costs and found that many agencies including school districts, cities and county governments own their own fiber connection between facilities. Cost savings come from bidding their internet service to multiple providers, ultimately driving down their cost of monthly internet service. The project was proposed to the City Council in 2019 and approved to include the cost of design and construction in the five-year Capital Improvement Plan for 2020-2024.

The Return-on-Investment analysis is based on estimates only as true costs will be dependent upon service provider bids and vendor equipment. 

View the full ROI document.