The City and County of San Francisco’s Department of Technology has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to form partnerships aimed at expanding high-speed broadband service in Bayview, Tenderloin, and Chinatown.
The city seeks proposals from internet service providers, telecommunications carriers, and network operators under two participation tracks — a broadband partnership track and a dark fiber lease track. The first invites providers to deliver affordable internet access to unserved locations identified by the California Public Utilities Commission. The second allows companies to lease or acquire indefeasible rights of use (IRUs) for unlit city-owned fiber.
Through the broadband partnership track, participating providers must commit to offering speeds of at least 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, with a low-cost plan option not exceeding $40 per month. All unserved areas must be connected by the end of 2026.
The RFI builds on the city’s Fiber to Housing program, which already supplies free internet to more than 150 affordable housing properties, supported by a $10.4 million CPUC grant from the Last Mile Federal Funding Account.
Responses are due by December 15, 2025. Selected partners will collaborate with the city to deliver new broadband service and expand digital equity infrastructure across San Francisco’s underserved districts.