Mayor David R. Martin
- On Hartford
“The City of Stamford continues evolve by looking towards the future of the northeast region. As part of the City’s economic development strategy, it is important that the City continues to be on the leading edge of technology that helps prepare its residents for careers in the fourth economy but also allows our local businesses be on the forefront of their own markets and allow for these business to expand on an international level as well. As part of this evolution, the City continues to seek the partnerships with the private sector to help achieve these goals.”
- On Next Century Cities
“The City of Stamford is looking forward to partnering and sharing its own experiences from lessons learned with other members of Next Century Cities. By having a network of communities working together from across the country, we can engage in the right partnerships to develop a network that reaches beyond our own community and that not only strengthens the nation as a whole but continues to strength our economy on the international level.”
- What New Haven is working on
The City of Stamford is home to a burgeoning tech industry with the emergence of the Stamford Innovation hub, part of a statewide ecosystem of entrepreneurial hubs, and home to the UCONN Stamford campus, Sacred Heart University Stamford campus and University of Bridgeport Stamford campus. The Stamford MSA is ranked 9th in a recent Kaufman report in startup density size (2011). Recently, Stamford has become an emerging media hub with the relocation of NBC Universal/Sports to the city, and joining other prominent companies that include World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Encompass Digital Media and Yes Network.
The City of Stamford is currently leading a group of forty-six municipalities in Connecticut that have joined together to facilitate the development of ultra-high-speed “Gig” internet networks for their communities. A joint Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) seeking information and dialogue with interested companies or developers, hoping to increase access to ultra-high-speed gigabit networks in their cities and throughout Connecticut while simultaneously reducing the cost of such networks for businesses, high-tech industry, universities, homeowners and other users. The RFQ has three goals: 1) Create a world-leading gigabit-capable network in targeted commercial corridors, as well as in residential areas with demonstrated demand, to foster innovation, drive job creation, and stimulate economic growth; 2) Provide free or heavily-discounted 10-100 MB (minimum) Internet service over a wired or wireless network to underserved and disadvantaged residential areas across the territories and diverse demographics of the RE; and 3) Deliver gigabit Internet service at prices comparable to other gigabit fiber communities across the nation.
As part of the RFP, the City hopes to create the Stamford Community Broadband Network (SCBN). In light of the increasing importance of affordable, high-speed broadband services, the SCBN initiative has the following goals:
- Create an open access gigabit network in targeted commercial and industrial corridors to foster innovation, drive job creation, and stimulate economic growth;
- Ensure that every Stamford resident or business can access advanced communications networks that will provide high-speed, high quality broadband connections to the Internet, where Stamford lives, works and plays, indoors and out of doors;
- Ensure that areas of the City that are currently underserved are promptly served;
- Ensure that the City is served by an open network, so no one is prevented or blocked from taking full advantage of the Internet’s capabilities;
- Ensure that every Stamford resident can enjoy the benefits of broadband, regardless of income or the area in which they reside; and
- Establish free wireless networks in parks and public spaces in the city.
