SPI Insights

New Hampshire – The town of Bedford is seeking vendor input on improving broadband coverage in underserved areas of the town.

Bedford is soliciting proposals through a request for information (RFI) to improve broadband coverage in the town to address the needs expressed by its residents. If necessary, the town’s desire is to form a partnership with one or more providers to address this goal. The town does not desire to operate or own the system.

Specific locations do not need to have current subscribers to a service using minimum 100 megabits per second download and upload speeds, but the transmission speed must be available at the street location. In addition, it must be made available by request to current or future subscribers and to the desired end location.

The town currently has uneven broadband access, availability, and speeds as determined by subscriber comments. The minimum speed specified has been chosen to ensure that all potential residential and business users have access to speed levels that are necessary to provide reliable provision of data blocks that are sufficient to service multiple simultaneous users at both residential and business locations.

This is a minimal speed requirement, and the desired transmission speed is 1 gigabits per second operating in a symmetrical fashion. However, it is recognized that subscribers may choose plans that are based on lower transmission speeds.

The desire is to have acceptable preliminary proposal(s) ready in time for Bedford’s Town Meeting in March 2022. Proposals will be reviewed by October 15, 2021, with preliminary acceptance and request for final proposal by November 15, 2021, and final proposals due December 15, 2021.