Cookeville Considering New Private Fiber Network

Cookeville City Council will consider allowing City Manager Mike Davidson to make an agreement with Twin Lakes creating a private fiber network for the city’s departments.

Davidson said during Monday’s work session the city has considered a project like this for nearly two years.

“In late June we put out a request for RSPs for who might propose basically a private network for the City of Cookeville using fiber,” Davidson said. “We received three proposals Frontier, Charter, and Twin Lakes all submitted a proposal.”

A review of the submitted proposals by the city’s IT department determined Twin Lakes was the better option.

Davidson said the proposed deal goes beyond providing a network for city buildings.

“In addition to the city facilities, we’re looking at connecting traffic signals too,” Davidson said, “so we can try to synchronize some signals now that we don’t have synchronized. So they’ll all be tied into this network as well, and that will give the traffic department ways to control and modify these signals from the shop or even at home if we need to.”

The proposal would include approximately 40 sites across the city, including electric substations and water tanks in addition to city facilities, buildings, and traffic lights. Twin Lakes was the only company to bid on all 40 proposed sites.

According to the proposal, Twin Lakes will not charge the city for any additional sites within the first year of the agreement, with each additional site after the first year being $750. The proposed agreement would be for 20 years, costing the city just under $4,500 per month.

Davidson added a new fiber network is required in order for departments to have a new phone system installed.

“The current phone system we have is 20-plus years old,” Davidson said. “There’s newer technology out there that we’re going to look at. The next step, before we can move to that, is having this type of network in place. That will be something we will be looking at next before long, assuming, hopefully, you all approve this agreement.”

Cookeville City Council will consider the agreement Thursday at 5:30 p.m.