Council Waives RFP, Authorizes Phone Services Contract After Broadband Coverage Debate

City IT staff recommended waiving the formal RFP process and authorizing a contract for phone services with MetroNet. The recommendation prompted broad council discussion about MetroNet’s coverage and whether awarding the contract would reduce leverage to require full‑city fiber buildout.

Several council members said MetroNet’s initial rollout did not deliver coverage to all neighborhoods and noted that buildout historically required a minimum number of subscribers before the company would extend infrastructure. Councilors referenced prior agreements and neighboring municipalities that negotiated different coverage terms.

IT staff said the city's existing phone infrastructure will be decommissioned later this year, creating urgency to secure a phone‑services provider. Some members argued that approving the MetroNet contract would preserve continuity and could be paired with renewed negotiations to insist on city‑wide coverage; others argued denying the low bidder might be necessary to force broader infrastructure commitments.

Council also discussed recent market changes: members referenced a reported purchase of MetroNet by T‑Mobile and a significant price increase in the vendor’s recent email communications to city staff.

After debate, the council voted to waive the RFP requirement and authorize the city manager to execute the contract. The roll‑call vote recorded one dissenting vote from Alder Parker; a majority voted in favor to ensure continuity of telephone services pending any future renegotiation with the vendor.