The city of Seattle is moving forward in its consideration of a citywide fiber-to-the-premises network, issuing a request for information last month. Responses are due July 7. If pursued, the project could require more than $280 million in fiber and construction and $100 million in electronics, yielding “hundreds of millions of dollars” in annual subscriber service revenue, the RFI said.

The city is also pledging some of its existing fiber and rights-of-way, including most of the municipal utility poles that reach 80% of city residences aerially, promising comparatively low deployment costs.

Seattle's 60% broadband penetration is well above the national average (as is its Internet use), and it is served by Comcast and Qwest, which offers DSL to about 84% of the population. But cable video prices in particular there have climbed at three times the rate of inflation, the city said. And a mayoral task force concluded last year that the city would lose its competitive edge if it didn't provide at least 20 Mb/s to all of its more than half-million residents (and 100 Mb/s later on) by 2015. The city is encouraging RFI respondents to use wireless solutions where needed, but the task force determined that only fiber can meet its long-term needs.

The city has ruled out becoming a network operator or retail service provider itself. But “to the extent possible,” the RFI said, “the city would like to consider an open broadband network architecture that allows for multiple service providers.” And “increasing customer choice and competition” is one of the project's goals.

The city will tell RFI respondents in August whether it plans to issue a request for proposals, proceed with finalists or simply scrap the idea.