[Update 2]San Francisco RFP -- Release Imminent?

An unofficial version of the San Francisco Wireless RFP has been making the rounds. The exact content remains confidential, but the main concern I have with it is that "basic services" (i.e., those that are provided free to low income residents, the general public, etc.) remain undefined. "Premium services" (i.e., those that end users would have to pay for) are defined as a minimum 1mbs symmetric -- so basic services will be far slower. Is San Francisco building a network with dial-up speeds for the poor? Why aren't basic services adequately defined? Wasn't 200kbs symmetric supposed to be the absolute minimum? Also, why is the entire proposal focused solely on Internet service provision instead of more broadly on Intranet services and applications? Seems rather short-sighted.

Ongoing information is available on the webnetic.net website. One can take a look at the full draft RFP on Kimo Crossman's Flickr website. A more in-depth analysis of the RFP is available on the Left in SF website.

Here's the table of contents:

Read more...

I. Introduction
II. Specifications

A. Business Model
B. Coverage
C. Usage Models
D. Multi-Use
E. Open Access
F. Services and Provisioning
G. Network Infrastructure
H. Customer Service
I. Security
J. Privacy
K. Community Programs

III. Submission Requirements

A. Time/Place for Submission of Proposals
B. Format and Content of Proposals

IV. Evaluation and Selection Criteria
V. Schedule

A. Pre-Proposal Conference
B. Schedule
C. Contract Award

VI. Terms and Conditions for Receipt of Proposals
VII. Contract Requirements
VIII. Protest Procedures
IX. Appendix B -- Standard Forms
X. Appendix C -- Requirements Compliance Matrix