March 31, 2004 -- The city is placing its entire telecommunications business, worth $200 million a year, up for grabs.
City officials disclosed yesterday that a "request for proposals" for a voice and data-services contract for all agencies was issued March 24, two days before an error by a Verizon worker knocked out 911 service in three boroughs for two hours.
Verizon currently handles most of the city's phone service, including 911. Aspokesman said the company would bid on the contract.
Meanwhile, Mayor Bloomberg said Verizon is "going to have to answer" for the 911 breakdown. He said there's been only one report of a fatality possibly caused by the outage.
Relatives say Jaspier Grier, 77, of Queens died of a heart attack when they couldn't get through on 911.
The mayor said a fire engine and ambulance rushed to the scene within five or six minutes - a "perfectly acceptable" response time - once a relative drove to a nearby firehouse for help.
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