D.C. picks Cisco for city network

The District of Columbia has chosen networking equipment from Cisco Systems Inc. to help build its $93 million metropolitan network.

DC-Net will link more than 300 sites throughout the nation's capital and consolidate voice and data communications for the city's agencies, including government offices, fire and police departments and schools.

The first phase of DC-Net will roll out in the first half of 2004. Additional services will come out continually over the next two years.