Thread by @shayshinecastle

Julia Richman, chief innovation and technology officer, and Tim Scott, broadband project manager, are presenting. Here is the presentation: www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/2B_Fiber_…

I could be tweeting this, but I'm lazy. Just read my story and the presentation. I'll tweet when council starts talking about schtuff.

JK, Jones asked a question that I had.... about the December proposal for one company to design/build/operate/maintain.

It's not being considered currently, but could be considered when city does the RFP for construction, Richman says.

Yates asks a q, too: Is it possible we can pre-lease some fiber? Or are you going to build it and then see if they come?
Richman: We hadn't thought about a pre-sale model. Might impact the debt financing that Boulder will use (certificates of participation)

Construction (starting by the end of 2019) will take 2-3 years
Richman: It will be a significant impact to community in terms of streets being closed, digging, sidewalks marked up, etc.

Very detailed (but not finalized) map of the backbone route in Boulder. I'll share in the updated story later.

"We have to take this now, look at the parts of city assets we already have and what condition they're in." That work started today. "We don't have very high expectations we would be able to use existing conduits for the backbone," Richman says.

That's for west of Broadway, which is the most expensive area to build in.

Route is about 50 miles, Richman says. (Memo said 60)

Also a nice diagram of a lateral, which I may also add to my story later. Information is power.

Scott is going over some technical details that I can't begin to understand. But his accent is lovely.

Interesting fact I did not know: All Boulder's traffic signals are wireless right now. None of them are fiber.

When it comes to deciding where to put laterals, "You never get it right 100% of a time, but you strategically position them. There is a little bit of crystal ball work."

Going over some costs now.
If the city can reuse existing conduits, and doesn't do any laterals: $16.862M
With laterals, that goes to $19.086M

If conduits can't be reused (looking likely), without laterals: $18.041M
With laterals: $20.265M

Depending on how much $$ Boulder gets for COPs, not all of the suggested laterals will be built (if council even OKs that path). Council will prioritize those laterals tonight.

Talking what those connections would be now: 154 traffic signals, BHP and other under-served communities (including two mobile home parks) Four RTD sites; parks & rec and OSMP areas; the NoBo library; and public safety radio towers.

Council is asking qs about next steps at, say, mobile home or BHP communities, once the lateral was built. Do we partner with an ISP?

Richman: Our idea is to get as close as possible, and we'll figure out what's next after that.

RTD approached Boulder to pick the four sites that laterals would be helpful for.
Scott: With RTD, their interest is just in raw fiber connectivity to their facilities. Downtown, Boulder Junction, Table Mesa and 63rd Street park n ride

I didn't realize they had an attachment of all the exact locations. It was in REALLY small print. I'll update the story with those.

Q from Brockett: What's the savings now vs later?
Richman: A significant amount: No range estimate, but for construction and labor and permitting, etc.
Scott: Obvs with crews out, there's efficiencies to them putting a fiber lateral in at the same time.

Guesses around 10% cheaper at least

Yates again pushes pre-sales. Encourages staff to find "likely buyers" of fiber to make sure Boulder is building it where they'll want to buy. They may even provide funding through pre-buying.

Morzel questioning connecting parks n rec and open space areas to the fiber backbone. "We're all too much on these" anyway, she says, holding up her phone.

Laterals will not add time to construction, Richman says, in response to Morzel's q about that. "If we don't build them now, we'll build them later."

Jones also says parks lands fall to the bottom of her priority list, too.

Richman says the internet is for more than "people on our phones: Our sprinkler system is wireless," etc. It's more about the facilities and operation of these places.

Brockett supports building the laterals. Parks n rec is lower for him, too, "I know it's important, but some of these others might rise a little bit to the top."

Also repeats requests that staff ask RTD to pay for laterals to their sites. Many jokes about the train.

Jones: Can't we get social impact funds for connections to under-served areas?
Richman: I'll look into that

Weaver suggests working with BHP as an ISP.

BHP will be returning tonight for council's call-up consideration of 30th/Pearl. (I didn't write about it bc it seems unlikely council will call it up, since it's on a tight timeline. Brockett requested that they not.)

Wishing I had brought my heating pad to council, but I'm already dressed like an old lady, so I thought it might be too much.

Transportation, public safety towers, and gap areas are the highest priority. Library is easy and cheap to do, so it's on the list, too.

Council debating now about whether they actually have to vote or not.

Tom Carr reminds them: It's an expenditure, so you have a motion. They can either have a public hearing now, or wait until the end of all the matters they are discussing and have one giant public hearing for them all.

OMGosh, there is a member of the public here, and he is speaking!

I love an impromptu public hearing. Neil Abraham. Boulder County resident "hopefully will be a resident of Boulder in the future." Must be coming into some money soon.

Abraham asks about 5G and its safety. LOL

As a matter of fact, 5G WAS discussed in the council memo. Staff had this to say:

“Once the city has fiber to the home/premise, Boulder owned broadband may have the effect of suppressing commercial interest in small cell and eventually 5G deployment for commercial and residential service purposes.”

Jones responds: Yes, we've discussed it, and it's scheduled for a hearing late this summer.
Weaver: Furthermore, we're preempted from making any rules about it by state and federal rules. Ppl to talk to about this are state and federal representatives.

Unanimous vote from council on funding the laterals. Moving on to the civic use pad. Please unroll @threadreaderapp. Thank you!