PLAN TO BRING HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS ALONG NORTH MAIN STREET

Published on February 14, 2022

HARTFORD, CONN (February 14, 2022) – Today, Mayor Luke Bronin and the Hartford City Council announced plans to bring high-speed fiber internet lines to businesses along North Main Street and Windsor Street. City leaders believe that by bringing reliable, high-speed broadband access to the North Main Street business corridor, this effort will support the future growth and competitiveness of businesses, as well as support development in the Northeast neighborhood.

The City is releasing an open request for proposals today to utility providers in order to find the best partner for this project. The City will provide funds equaling 50% of total project cost, and is asking utility providers to match the city's investment. The conduit will be owned by the City with shared use by the utility.

“Bringing high-speed access to businesses along North Main Street and Windsor Street is key to making sure those businesses can compete and grow," said Mayor Bronin. “This investment will support growth along a vital corridor in the Northeast neighborhood that has, for far too long, been held back by inadequate infrastructure and limited access to high-speed internet. I want to thank City Council for their partnership in supporting this initiative, and I look forward to bringing much-needed reliable internet access to these Northeast neighborhood businesses.”

“I am extremely grateful for the investment Mayor Bronin and his administration is making for businesses that operate in North Hartford's main business corridor,” said City Council Majority Leader TJ Clarke II. “The creation of broadband access to support our Northend businesses has been overdue for the past decade.  This critical investment will allow these businesses in the Northeast neighborhood to operate at maximum capacity, expand their businesses and employ more people.”

“Having access to information anywhere, anytime, is a requirement to operate in any business environment,” said Councilwoman Shirley Surgeon. “We have had a prolonged necessity for internet access on North Main Street and Windsor Avenue and I am excited that the city is providing this opportunity for our merchants’ continued growth and success.”

City officials aim to complete the procurement and contracting process in the next few months and hope to start construction this spring. The City is seeking a partner with prior experience on projects of equal complexity that is able both to submit a competitively priced bid and to finance half of the total project cost.