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Council committee advances Cox telephony contract and Ocean‑to‑Ocean network renewal
Summary
The finance committee advanced a 12‑month telephony services contract with Cox Communications (about $121,000) and a network backbone renewal with Ocean to Ocean (modest increase), with staff explaining operational impacts and budget allocations.
City IT Director Phil Carluchcci presented two communications items to the finance committee. First, he recommended awarding the city’s telephony (VoIP desk phones, voicemail and integration) to Cox Communications under ordinance 566 for approximately $121,000 for 12 months beginning July 1, 2026; Carluchcci said the monthly average has varied and that moving telephone numbers away from the incumbent could require a major reconfiguration of direct inward dialing numbers.
Second, he recommended renewal of citywide network backbone services via a piggyback on the state MPA with Ocean to Ocean Inc., covering July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. Carluchcci said the new charge structure produced about a 1 percent increase from last year and that switching the city’s backbone to the cooperative had previously reduced costs versus private‑sector pricing.
Council members asked clarifying questions on monthly bills, internal charge allocations to cost centers and whether alternative vendors were available. Carluchcci said options exist but would be disruptive and might not yield substantial savings. Both items were advanced on the bids consent docket.
