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San Francisco Seeks Universal Fiber Broadband With Net Neutrality and Privacy

posted by Fnord666 on Monday February 05 2018, @11:39AM   
from the give-me-network-choices dept.

NotSanguine writes:

Ars Technica is reporting on San Francisco's initial steps to create a citywide fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) open-access network where ISPs compete for customers.

According to Ars Technica:

San Francisco is trying to find network providers to build a city-wide, gigabit fiber Internet service with mandated net neutrality and consumer privacy protections. It would be an open-access network, allowing multiple ISPs to offer service over the same lines and compete for customers.

The city yesterday issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to find companies that are qualified "to design, build, finance, operate, and maintain a ubiquitous broadband FTTP [fiber-to-the-premises] network that permits retail service providers to lease capacity on the network." The project would also involve a free Wi-Fi service for city parks, city buildings, major thoroughfares, and visitor areas. Low-income residents would qualify for subsidies that make home Internet service more affordable.

ISPs offering service over the network would not be allowed to block or throttle lawful Internet traffic or engage in paid prioritization. ISPs would also need customers' opt-in consent "prior to collecting, using, disclosing, or permitting access to customer personal information or information about a customer's use of the network."

Could this be the first major US metropolitan area to create a real free market in broadband Internet? Do any Soylentils have similar municipal networks?

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Original Submission

• Re:I'm a bit dubious (Score: 3, Informative) by NotSanguine on Monday February 05 2018, @04:49PM

  by NotSanguine (285) <{NotSanguine} {at} {SoylentNews.Org}> on Monday February 05 2018, @04:49PM (#633321) Homepage Journal

  Who said anything about the government running the network?

  From TFA:

  The city says it will cover a portion of the costs for the multi-billion dollar project and provide or lease access to necessary city property and infrastructure. But San Francisco isn't planning to build the network itself, a step that hundreds of smaller cities and towns have taken.

  The winning bidder is "expected to assume the full performance risk," including "all risks related to design, construction, financing, operation, and maintenance" of the network, the RFQ says. As a result, the biggest challenge may be finding companies willing to meet all of San Francisco's demands.

  What's more, having implemented and managed large networks, I can tell you that while there certainly are challenges to the success of any large project, it's not all that difficult as long as you have buy-in and (here's where we need to suspect the corps, not the government) good-faith efforts to meet the agreed upon terms of the contract.

  --
  No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr

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