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City Council approves three-year contract with Fuse Dot Cloud for unified IT, phone and internet services
Summary
After a presentation from Fuse Dot Cloud, the Helena-West Helena City Council voted 5-0 to enter a three-year contract to consolidate the city's internet, telephone and IT services, a contract company representatives said would upgrade infrastructure and reduce monthly costs.
Helena-West Helena City Council voted unanimously to enter into a three-year contract with Fuse Dot Cloud to consolidate the city's internet, telephone and IT services.
Fuse Dot Cloud's business development manager, Brian Jones, told the council the company would replace a "hodgepodge" of current providers with a single managed service that includes fiber internet, voice-over-IP telephones, Wi-Fi coverage and managed IT support. "We're gonna save the city $2,000 a month," Jones said during the presentation, adding the package would also include cybersecurity licenses, backups and a disaster-recovery option.
The company representatives said the proposal would increase bandwidth at city facilities (they cited an example moving from 20 Mbps to 250 Mbps at one location), replace cable and copper connections with fiber where available, provide unified telephone hardware, and include unlimited desktop support and annual reviews. Jimmy Malling, also with Fuse Dot Cloud, described the offering as a "one stop shop" for the city's communications and IT needs.
Council discussion noted an existing phone lease contract that does not expire until Sept. 29, 2025. Andre Brown, speaking for the record about the current contract timeline, said the city could stage the telephone portion to begin when the existing agreement lapses, while starting internet and IT changes earlier. Jones said a typical fiber construction timetable was 90 to 120 days after work begins.
After questions about continuity for emergency services, backup internet options and 9-1-1 arrangements, Doctor Miller moved to approve entering into the contract; Miss Davis seconded. The roll call recorded five yes votes and the contract was approved.
Votes at a glance - Contract with Fuse Dot Cloud (three-year managed services for internet/phone/IT; company presented a $79,000 total over three years figure and said it equates to roughly $26,000 per year): Motion to enter contract carried, 5-0 (mover: Doctor Miller; seconder: Miss Davis).
Why it matters: The contract centralizes communications and IT under a single vendor and aims to increase bandwidth, add redundancy and shift telephony to VoIP. The city clerk and treasurer were asked to review billing and contract timing so service changes align with the city's existing leases and payment cycles.
What happens next: Fuse Dot Cloud representatives told the council they would provide a project manager and timing plan once the contract is authorized; council members asked staff to coordinate with the clerk and treasurer on transition timing and on ensuring emergency 9-1-1 functions remain in place.
Ending: Council members repeatedly asked staff to confirm where costs would be charged in the budget and to ensure the city's clerk and treasurer review the contract terms before implementation.
