OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
550 MAIN STREET
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT

EDDIE A. PEREZ                                                                                   Telephone: (860) 543-8500
Mayor                                                                                                       Fax:               (860) 722-6606

CITY PUTS NEIGHBORHOOD WIRELESS NETWORK OUT TO BID

Today, Hartford Mayor Eddie A. Perez began to make good on his March state of the city pledge to build a wireless network in Hartford that will provide free high-speed Internet access for city residents. The Request For Qualifications (RFQ) released today by the City of Hartford’s purchasing division asks for private sector companies to partner with the City of Hartford to not only create a citywide wireless network, but also provide training and low cost equipment for city residents. It is estimated less than 33% of Hartford families have access to a computer and Internet access in their homes. In households making $15,000 a year or less, 83% lack access tot he Internet.  This compares with Hartford’s neighboring towns were between 60-70% of households have access to computers and the Internet.

“For too long Hartford residents have been on the wrong side of the digital divide. The rapid evolution of technology has made Internet access and proficiency essential to everything from applying for a job to opening a checking account. We need to provide access to this technology for our residents so they can create better economic and educational opportunities for their families.” Mayor Perez stated.

The release of today’s RFQ is the work of the Mayor’s WiFi Task Force chaired by the Mayor’s Chief of Staff Matt Hennessy that included representatives from Metro Hartford Information Services, The Hartford Public Library and the City Purchasing Division. “The city is lucky to have both the human capital and technology infrastructure to bring this complex project closer to reality.  Mayor Perez’s WiFi effort has the potential to open new doors of opportunity for so many of our residents.” Hennessy stated.

The RFQ asks private sector companies to propose how they would partner with the city to meet the Mayor’s goals of providing high speed internet access, training and low cost equipment to residents. The city hopes a public private partnership will serve a market of residents that has not had access to Internet service up to this point. Under the city’s plan the Blue Hills and Downtown neighborhoods will be “live” next summer. It is anticipated that the city’s other residential neighborhoods will be connected to the network shortly after the pilot neighborhoods go on-line.

The RFQ can be viewed @ www.RFPdepot.com.