Alexandria, Virginia is trying to find a partner to build a citywide fiber network to serve its 150,000 residents and 15,000 businesses.

But the city eight miles outside Washington, DC could already have had a fiber network up and running years ago if Verizon hadn't abandoned a plan to deliver its FiOS service there.

"Initially, Verizon staff indicated that the company wanted to pursue a FiOS deployment in Alexandria," the city explains in a " Verizon FiOS FAQ ."

The city approved a new telecommunications franchise in June 2009 allowing Verizon to construct the fiber-to-the-premises network. Further negotiations were needed to hammer out a cable television franchise as well, but early in 2010 Verizon informed the city in a letter that it would be able to complete its nationwide FiOS deployment goals without doing any work in Alexandria.

Fast forwarding to the present, Alexandria just yesterday issued a Request For Information (RFI) to determine what for-profit or nonprofit entities would partner with the city to finally build a citywide fiber network. Besides access for residents and businesses, the city also wants connections for government buildings and schools. There's already fiber and fiber conduits to schools and government buildings, but the city is seeking capacity upgrades and expansions.

Alexandria would seem to be a prime candidate for an extensive fiber-to-the-premises deployment given its "wealth and proximity to the Nation’s capital," the RFI said. But it hasn't happened yet.

"The City has a number of communications service providers in the area, including Comcast, Level 3 Communications, Verizon, and Zayo. Indications are, however, that the local appetite and need for greater and more uniformly available broadband services both now and in the future cannot be met with current and projected service levels," the city wrote.

Businesses and universities would benefit from better Internet access, while "the City’s approximately 150,000 residents also have limited options for broadband Internet service," Alexandria officials wrote. "The City regularly receives feedback from our citizens requesting additional options that are not available on the market today."

The city asked interested parties to respond by September 3.