3 firms submit wireless bids to city

Three companies told Colorado Springs officials Tuesday they are interested in building a citywide wireless broadband network.

Boulder-based Affinity Telecom Inc., Chicago area-based Federal Signal Corp. and Fort Collins-based Front Range Internet Inc. each proposed building such networks in response to a city solicitation asking companies to formally indicate interest.

None of the five companies that approached the city during the past year about building wireless networks in the Springs responded to the solicitation, including Azulstar Inc., EarthLink Inc., SpyPilot Networks Inc., Tropos Networks Inc. and WavMax LLC.

Gerry Geyer, chairman of the city’s Telecommunications Policy Advisory Committee, which came up with the solictation, was not available for comment.

More than 20 potential bidders, including Azulstar, EarthLink, Tropos and WavMax, downloaded bid packages from the city’s contracting Web site.

Proposals from the three companies will be reviewed by a committee, including representatives from city agencies and civic groups, that will recommend whether the city should negotiate agreements with any providers. No timetable has been set for that recommendation.