North Carolina's TriGig Seeking Proposals for Fiber Network

KERNERSVILLE, NC — The Tri-Gig High Speed Broadband Initiative, a cooperative effort between the city of Greensboro, Guilford County, the city of High Point, the city of Burlington, NC A&T State University, UNCG, and the Piedmont Triad Regional Council (PTRC), is seeking proposals to develop the next-generation broadband infrastructure needed to meet the technological needs of current and future businesses, public institutions, educational institutions, and local residents.

The cooperative is seeking network solutions and business models that are innovative, preparing the region for the future while serving current needs, and is seeking opportunities to best use existing public investments in currently underutilized government fiber and broadband assets to provide the maximum benefit to the public.

Vendors or coalitions of vendors are sought to achieve the following goals and objectives:

• Create a gigabit, fiber network to foster innovation, drive job creation, stimulate economic growth, and serve new areas of development in the community;


• Provide an open access architectural framework that maximizes wholesale and retail service delivery and competition;


• Provide a flexible menu of optional retail services


• Use public-private assets to reduce the digital divide, enhance workforce knowledge and skills, promote economic development, enhance access for anchor institutions, and serve other targeted social purposes identified by the participating municipalities;


• Provide high speed internet service over a wired or wireless network at a substantial discount from current market prices.