Portsmouth Takes Next Steps to Become a Smart City

PORTSMOUTH, Va., Aug. 7, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Portsmouth City Council is taking the next steps to make the historic port city a smart city. Earlier this year, the city implemented a fiber design master plan, and an RFP (Request for Proposal) was issued to construct a community broadband network. The broadband project encompasses 55 miles of state-of-the-art fiber optics designed to increase internet connectivity around the city. City leadership has now re-engaged Federal Engineering Inc. (FE) and its subcontractor Magellan Advisors (FE/Magellan Team), the nation's leading broadband and smart city development firm, to create a Citizen Connectivity Study. The study will be focused on using the City's planned fiber-optic backbone network:

    --  * as a platform for digital inclusion initiatives
    --  * a driver for economic development
    --  * for support of efficient municipal operations, and
    --  * to increase the area's quality of life



    --  Through the proposed Citizen Connectivity Study, the consultants will
        survey households and businesses to understand how they currently use
        technology and the importance of high-speed digital connectivity. Survey
        results will reveal the benefits of and barriers to technology use,
        particularly available internet access options. Working with City
        departmental leaders, the FE/Magellan Team will engage key stakeholders,
        from major businesses to neighborhood champions, to define current gaps
        and goals. A series of workshops will be conducted to gather input and
        learn about connectivity needs and opportunities. The insights and
        anecdotal evidence from these discussions will allow for deep insights
        into what connectivity means for Portsmouth's citizenry in today's
        global digital economy.The FE/Magellan Team will supplement its
        extensive knowledge from designing Portsmouth's new fiber-optic network
        with research into other regional network infrastructure. The area has
        numerous large entities that own infrastructure, in part because it is a
        major pass-through area for the east coast and termination points for
        undersea cables. Network service providers are invited to share
        connectivity issues they have encountered and how they might help
        address community needs.
    --  Portsmouth's community broadband network will include connections to
        community anchor institutions such as hospitals, higher education
        centers, and will serve as a catalyst to narrow the digital divide and
        regional broadband initiatives. Construction began in July. Daniel
        Jones, chief information officer for the city of Portsmouth said the
        project is a five-year build-out that will make Portsmouth a digital
        port. The community broadband network is a $9 million multiphase capital
        project.
    --  "The Citizen Connectivity Study will provide precise information on what
        businesses and citizens actually need when it comes to high-speed
        internet connectivity," said Jones. "Our project will connect all
        municipal facilities including schools and the broadband network will
        improve municipal operations at a substantial cost savings."
    --  The study will be conducted in conjunction with a new Smart City study
        group being established by the City. The consultant will engage with the
        community through this group, as well as local associations, civic
        leagues, and businesses. Results from the surveys, discussions, and
        infrastructure inventory will be analyzed along with input from these
        groups to establish a strategy and action plan for the City. The
        connectivity study is expected to be completed over the next five
        months.

Media Contact:
Sharon Riddick Hoggard, Marketing Manager
757-393-5143 EXT 6265
hoggards@portsmouthva.gov

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SOURCE City of Portsmouth, VA