History
Project Genesis (2016):
- A Major South Bay Business (Torrance) relocated because of poor quality and expensive network services
- The lack of broadband infrastructure was seen as an economic development issue
- Over $165k was invested in understanding the issue and developing a strategy/plan to address the challenge
Call to Action (2017):
- A study of the issue was commissioned by the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas
- Magellan Advisors completed the analysis and provided a report entitled: “South Bay Fiber Optic Master Plan”
- What the SBCCOG learned:
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- South Bay Cities’ Internet Services are expensive and sub-standard
- Average monthly recurring costs were ~$4,000 for far less than a GB of service
- South Bay cities were not able to take advantage of Smart City applications for City Services; Economic Development; and, Transportation Infrastructure Improvements
- “South Bay Fiber Optic Master Plan” provided a roadmap for South Bay cities to work collectively towards the creation of a high-speed fiber optic network that would provide high-quality internet capacity at a minimum of 1 GB at about ½ the price that cities were paying at the time
Next Steps/RFP (2018):
- Spring: SBCCOG, with Input from South Bay Cities’ Information Technology Directors and Magellan Advisors, issued a Request for Proposals to Build and Operate a new Fiber Optic Backbone Network called the “South Bay Smart-net”
- There was significant interest in the RFP – 32 individuals from 14 different companies attended the mandatory “Pre-Proposal Meeting”
- September: 4 Proposals were received
- October/November: Proposals were reviewed and ranked
- December: SBCCOG began discussions with the lead proposer pre-negotiations for “best and Final” costs and terms

- June 1 2019
Measure M Funded – Notice to Proceed
Measure M Funded – Notice to Proceed
June 1, 2019 - August 1 2019
Aug – Dec. 2019: Secured “Letters of Commitment from Participating Agencies
Aug – Dec. 2019: Secured “Letters of Commitment from Participating Agencies
August 1, 2019Aug – Dec. 2019
- September 1 2019
SBCCOG Approved Vendor Award
SBCCOG Approved Vendor Award
September 1, 2019 - November 1 2019
First Work Order Approved by SBCCOG – for Core Ring
First Work Order Approved by SBCCOG – for Core Ring
November 1, 2019 - February 1 2020
Second Work Order Approved by SBCCOG – for construction Phase 1 of lateral connections to SBFN sites
Second Work Order Approved by SBCCOG – for construction Phase 1 of lateral connections to SBFN sites
February 1, 2020 - April 1 2020
First City Connected to the Network
First City Connected to the Network
April 1, 2020 - June 1 2020
Third Work Order Approved by SBCCOG – for remaining sites not connected to the network per Metro Funding Agreement
Third Work Order Approved by SBCCOG – for remaining sites not connected to the network per Metro Funding Agreement
June 1, 2020 - June 30 2020
June – July 2020: Core Ring Completed and First phase of lateral connections to the network are “turned-up”
June – July 2020: Core Ring Completed and First phase of lateral connections to the network are “turned-up”
June 30, 2020June – July 2020