AGENDA ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CARLO TOMAINO
CITY MANAGER
BY: CHARLES HUGHES
CITY LIBRARIAN
SUBJECT:
title
CONTRACT SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH IMPERIAL COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION, FOR EDUCATION NETWORK INITIATIVES OF CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND INTERNET AT THE SIGNAL HILL PUBLIC LIBRARY
summary
Summary:
The California Research and Education Network (CalRen) was introduced in the 1980s as a powerful high-speed broadband fiber optic internet service for more than 20 million users in California, including students, educators, and researchers. In 1997, the non-profit Corporation for Education Network Initiatives of California (CENIC) was founded to provide cost-effective connectivity to CalRen for universities and colleges. CENIC now includes research institutions, public schools, and libraries, managing an extensive fiber network to support innovation and economic growth.
The Signal Hill Public Library connected to CENIC in 2019, joining 129 public library jurisdictions using or planning to use this service. In 2023, the City entered a contract with Columbia Telecommunication Corporation (CTC) for CENIC internet. However, in December 2023, the California State Library replaced CTC with Imperial County Office of Education (ICOE) as the Statewide Broadband Access Aggregator. The City Council recently approved an amendment to continue services with ICOE through June 30, 2024.
The City Council will now consider entering into a new Contract Services Agreement with ICOE, for CENIC high-speed broadband internet at the Signal Hill Public Library.
Strategic Plan Goal(s):
Goal No. 4: Infrastructure: Maintain and improve the City’s physical infrastructure, water system, and recreational spaces.
Goal No. 5: High-Functioning Government: Strengthen internal communication, recruitment, retention, systems, and processes to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of City services.
recommendation
Recommendation:
Authorize the City Manager to enter into a five-year agreement with Imperial County Office of Education (ICOE), for Corporation for Education Network Initiatives of California (CENIC) at the library, for a not-to-exceed amount of $50,000 per year for the initial five-year term.
body
Fiscal Impact:
The proposed five-year Contract Services Agreement for high-speed broadband internet at the Signal Hill Public Library is for a not-to-exceed amount of $50,000 per year for the five-year period. Staff has requested funds for the first year of the contract in the amount of $48,153.52, to be budgeted in the Parks, Recreation and Library Services Department for Fiscal Year 2024-2025, Account No. 100-81-5400; future allocations will be budgeted through the annual operating budget process.
Background:
The California Research and Education Network (CalRen) was introduced in the 1980s and is one of the world’s most powerful research and education networks. CalRen has provided the public with access to a high-speed broadband fiber optic internet designed to meet the needs of more than 20 million users, students, educators, researchers, and others working in California’s vital public-serving institutions. In 1997, the non-profit organization CENIC was founded to provide universities and colleges in California with a cost-effective network and connectivity to the CalRen network. CENIC operates and maintains the CalRen which includes roughly 8,000 miles of CENIC-owned and managed fiber, last-mile fiber, and hundreds of optical components.
CENIC has since expanded to include research institutions, public schools, and public libraries. CENIC advances education and research statewide by providing a world-class network essential for innovation, collaboration, and economic growth. The Signal Hill Public Library connected to CENIC for the public to access CalRen high-speed internet network in 2019 when the new library building opened. There are currently 129 public library jurisdictions that have the service or are in the process of connecting to the service. Public libraries already using the service include Long Beach Public Library, City of Commerce Library, Covina Public Library, Whittier Public Library, and Downey City Library.
Through a partnership with the California State Library and its broadband aggregator Califa, more than 85% of eligible library jurisdictions in California are connected to CENIC.
In July 2021, the City entered into a Letter of Agency (LOA), to confirm participation in the CENIC Federal Schools and Libraries Program funds (E-rate) Consortium as an eligible member for FY 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26, and 2026-27 E-rate application years (Attachment A). The LOA authorized CENIC to act on behalf of the city for competitive bidding to procure high-speed broadband internet and matters related to the federal E-rate discount program for the purposes of securing discounts on eligible telecommunications/data transmission services for eligible library locations.
In 2023, the City entered into a Contract Services Agreement with CTC to provide the CENIC internet to the Signal Hill Public Library, per the LOA. In December 2023, the City was notified by the California State Library that it terminated services with CTC and designated the ICOE as the new Statewide Broadband Access Aggregator for the California State Broadband Services Project, assuming the duties and responsibilities previously assigned to CTC. On May 28, 2024, the City Council approved Amendment No. 1 with ICOE to continue services without interruption, through June 30, 2024.
Analysis:
The proposed contract includes one-time vendor costs, equipment updates for the Signal Hill Public Library’s circuit connection, and ongoing maintenance costs. The contract also requires ICOE and CENIC to apply for annual reimbursements for E-rate and California Teleconnect Funds (CTF) on the City’s behalf. These funds provide subsidies for schools and libraries offering internet services to underserved areas. Based on historical data, staff anticipates that up to 80% of the CENIC charges will be credited to the City under formulas currently used for E-rate and CTF calculations; however, the formulas may change from year to year and are not guaranteed. As such, to ensure uninterrupted services, staff included the entire cost of the annual contract in the proposed FY 2024-25 budget.
Staff is recommending the City enter into a new Contract Services Agreement with ICOE to provide the CENIC high-speed broadband internet to the Library through June 30, 2029 (Attachment B). The new agreement includes updated circuit equipment necessary to connect to the CENIC high speed broadband internet network.
Reviewed for Fiscal Impact:
_________________________
Sharon del Rosario
Attachments:
A. Letter of Agency
B. Contract Services Agreement