Canadian-Hemphill Economic Development Corporation| Chamber of Commerce

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2017
(Updated 2-22-2018)

CITY OF CANADIAN AND HEMPHILL COUNTY RELEASE BROADBAND REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
City of Canadian, Hemphill County and Canadian Independent School District Leaders seek better broadband service

Canadian, TX, November 16, 2017–The City of Canadian, Texas; Hemphill County and Canadian Independent School District (ISD) today released a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking enhanced broadband services for the region. The release of the RFP is the culmination of work begun in July, 2017 by the Canadian/Hemphill Broadband Taskforce. The taskforce includes: Canadian-Hemphill Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Past Chairman Benjamin Needham; EDC Executive Director Shane Spencer; Canadian City Manager Joe Jarosek; Canadian City Council member and current EDC Chairman Jonathan Frederick; Canadian ISD board members Larry Gatlin and Larry Smith and Canadian ISD Director of Technology David Calabrese.

The efforts of the taskforce have yielded an effort designated as the Canadian Broadband Initiative (CBI) The goals of the CBI are as follows:

• Create a scalable network solution to foster innovation, drive job creation, stimulate economic growth, and serve new areas of development in the community; by providing service for a minimum of fifteen (15) years from the date of first operation. 
  
  
• Attract a Service Provider or Service Providers who will offer a flexible menu of retail broadand services, that improve service to the following eligible service areas:
   
  • Unserved/Underserved areas - Offer new or enhanced service in underserved and unserved areas of the county
    
    
  • Economic Corridors - Offer enhanced service along key business and high-density residential corridors in the City of Canadian and connects broadband assets that serve remote areas of the county
    
    
  • Government facilities - Offer fiber-based services to meet the administrative and public safety needs of Hemphill County and the City of Canadian and the redundant Internet Access needs of the Canadian Independent School District.
    
    
  • Create a new route from Canadian to a nearby Internet Point of Presence (PoP). The CBI understands that one of the issues limiting service options and reliability of Internet connections for City of Canadian/Hemphill County residents, businesses, and public sector entities is the lack of competitive fiber routes to nearby Internet PoPs. As part of this request for proposal, the CBI would like to explore the creation of alternative paths to nearby Internet PoPs.

“Improved broadband service is an essential element of improving access to education; better healthcare and spurring economic growth in Canadian and Hemphill County”, commented Shane Spencer, Executive Director of the EDC. “Through this RFP process we hope to attract broadband investment to Canadian and Hemphill County.”

The timeline for the RFP process is as follows: 

February 19, 2018   Request for Proposals CBI

April 23, 2018          RFP Proposald due to CBI-5PM CST

April 24, 2018          Review, recommendations, contract negotiations begin

May 1, 2018            Recommendations to City Council and County

The RFP can be found here:

View Broadband Enhancement RFP

The January 5, 2018 Update - Canadian Hemphill Q&A PDF can be found here:

View January 5, 2018 Update - Canadian Hemphill Q&A PDF

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Shane Spencer at 806-323-6234 or email at shane@canadiantx.com.