Could Los Angeles get a private company to spend $3 billion to $5 billion to connect every residence and business in the city to a fiber broadband network? City leaders seem to think so, and are planning to move forward with an RFP.
"Los Angeles is about to unleash one of the most ambitious city-led broadband projects to date, with the goal of bringing fiber to all of its 3.5 million residents and all businesses," reports Jon Brodkin. "Next month, the city plans to issue an RFP (request for proposals) 'that would require fiber to be run to every residence, every business, and every government entity within the city limits of Los Angeles,' Los Angeles Information Technology Agency GM Steve Reneker told Ars today."
"The new fiber network would offer free Internet access of 2Mbps to 5Mbps (possibly subsidized by advertising) and paid tiers of up to a gigabit," notes Brodkin. "The fiber network would also power Wi-Fi hotspots in public areas."
Read the full story: Bigger than Google Fiber: LA plans citywide gigabit for homes and businesses
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