14A — January 27 - February 9, 2017 — Economic Development — M id A tlantic
Real Estate Journal
www.marejournal.com
E conomic D evelopment
The network will drive economic growth, create jobs and improve quality of life Kent County, MD provides access to Gigabit Speed Broadband for residents and businesses I
n January 2016, Kent County issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the design and construction of a Fiber Optic Broadband Network, to improve con- nectivity to essential anchor institutions, priority fund- ing areas, industrial parks and communities around the county. Bidders were en- couraged to propose creative design recommendations for the network, particularly to connect 54 sites and areas that Kent County specified. Additional features, services, and forward-thinking design elements would be considered.
Kent County established a project timeline of up to four years with preference for an accelerated project timeline. FTS Fiber, a dark fiber sup- plier providing carrier-class network infrastructure in both rural areas and major markets of the United States, presented a proposal with a unique funding approach and a faster timeline that exceeded Kent County’s goal of provid- ing high-speed internet con- nectivity. FTS Fiber’s platform offered a modernized fiber optic solution with up to 40 times more throughput than the incumbent solution that
would also deliver one gigabit of Internet access. In support- ing Kent County’s objectives of maintaining a strong fis- cal position and investing in technology infrastructure, the network will drive economic growth, create jobs and im- prove quality of life for resi- dents and businesses. The dark fiber backbone will be an integral part of a long haul communications network between Ashburn, VA and Virginia Beach. This network, requested by major content providers, is part of several international cables that will be installed from Europe and
South America to Virginia Beach in 2017 and 2018. Kent County and the surrounding counties on the Delmarva Peninsula will serve as a gate- way and international point of presence in optical transport. In November 2016, Kent County’s Broadband Exten- sion Program won the Mary- land Association of Counties, Academy for Excellence in Local Governance, Best Prac- tices Award. The program started by granting wireless providers rent free access to county-owned towers in ex- change for discounted internet services to free and reduced
meal students with costs as low as $20 per month. The county investment for the dark fiber-optic infrastructure is 4.5 million dollars. Through years of practicing fiscal responsibil- ity, the county will not need to seek additional funding or loans, raise taxes or increase fees as the entire amount can be paid out of the healthy fund balance. The contract with FTS (private sector) and Kent County includes a revenue aspect so over time, the project could pay for itself. n purchase 10 acres in Virginia Beach VIRGINIA BEACH, VA — Globalinx Data Center, LLC, headquartered in Virginia Beach, has agreed to purchase 10 acres of land for $2 million in the Corporate Landing Business Park from the Vir- ginia Beach Development Authority . The company plans to develop a 138,000 s/f international, carrier-neutral data center to provide con- nections for numerous fiber providers. Said Greg Twitt , CEO of Globalinx Data Center, LLC, “The project is located on an excellent pre-vetted site near the newly announced Tele- fonica cable landing station. We have witnessed data center and technology growth in oth- er markets with international connectivity points and believe the Globalinx Data Center will provide similar opportunities in the Virginia Beach area.” Companies are eager to stake a claim in Virginia Beach after announcements by Telefonica, Microsoft and Facebook to bring transat- lantic fiber cables, the first in the Mid-Atlantic, to Virginia Beach in 2017 and 2018. “The world is taking notice of Virginia Beach, and we are prepared with the infrastruc- ture, incentives and forward- thinking support to welcome big data users,” said Virginia Beach Economic Development director Warren Harris . Five 9s Digital of Char- lotte, NC will handle the marketing and leasing of the project. C. Cheney Cole, Jr., CCIM with S.L. Nusbaum represented the buyer in the transaction and will assist Five 9s Digital with local mar- keting and leasing efforts. n Globalinx Data Center, LLC To
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