Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, August 01, 2017
Discussion
SUBJECT:
Title
UPDATE ON SOUTH BAY CITIES COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT (SBCCOG) FIBER OPTIC MASTER PLAN AND CONSIDER A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR SOUTH BAY CITIES FOR PARTICIPATION IN EXPLORING COSTS OF REGIONAL FIBER NETWORK (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
The South Bay Cities Council of Government (SBCCOG) has the opportunity to create a new and inclusive economy; supporting quality of life through workforce and economic development by creating a smart region built on a fiber-optic network infrastructure that supports the fifteen South Bay cities. A letter was received supporting the SBCCOG's Fiber Optic Master Plan from the City's Technology Advancement & Innovation Commission (Exhibit No. 2). We are requesting that the City Council support this master plan.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
AUTHORIZE the Mayor to sign the attached "letter of interest" addressed to the SBCCOG.
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III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate and consistent with the requirements of the law.
IV. BACKGROUND
The region's telecommunications network infrastructure became the focus on a new initiative of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments because expensive and poor network services were identified by a prominent business as one of the reasons for leaving the South Bay in 2016.
While this was only an anecdote, some cities began to fear that other businesses may follow if the infrastructure is in fact sub-standard with high prices for low quality service. This would lead to job loss and reduced opportunities for South Bay residents.
The South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB) became concerned about the potential for network infrastructure to retain and attract jobs in the South Bay. At the same time, the SBWIB gained access to $100,000 grant from the California Employment Development Department that would pay for an expert assessment of the situation and option...
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