HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 10/5/2021 - Memorandum From Chad Crager Re: May 2021 Council Onboarding Session Follow Up - Fort Collins ConnexionIntroducing Fort Collins Connexion
Colman Keane, Broadband Executive Director
Chad Crager, Outside Plant Director
Why Municipal Broadband?
Internet access is no longer a luxury for a household or business,
it is a necessity.
There is a lack of fair, affordable high-speed Internet connectivity
for all residents and businesses in the City of Fort Collins.
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Why Fiber?
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FUTURE-PROOF TECHNOLOGY
GPON, NG-PON, Active, wireless backhaul
-just getting started
-Fiber sensing
ECO-FRIENDLY
Lowest power consumption
per megabit per second
COST-EFFECTIVE
High density, low density,
long reach, low operating
expenditure, long lived,
resilient, smooth migration
path to next gen
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
Unbeatable 1G service offer,
premium customer experience
Future Proof
Cost Effective
Eco-Friendly
What We Do
Connexion provides gigabit-
speed internet, phone and TV
service to the residents and
businesses in Fort Collins.
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The Future –City as a Platform
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Quality of Life
Safety &
Security
Hyper
Connected
Economic
Growth
Core ServicesSustainability
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History of Investigation
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•The City held discussions with each of the Fort Collins major incumbents.
•Evaluated peer cities -had conversations/visit with Cities who had successful and
unsuccessful broadband deployments
•Staff explored a number of solutions and developed the following four alternatives &
surveyed citizens for preference.
Governance
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Broadband Requires Different Approach Than Single Source Utilities
Rationale
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Current Thinking
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Example
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Achieves Objectives Outlined
City
Manager
City
Council
Net Neutrality
Code
Budget
Council
Meetings Direction Staff
Strategic Plan
Marketing Plan
Pricing
City Manager
Establish
Executive
Session
Inform & Review
Regular Communication
City ManagerMemos &
Staff ReportsProgress
Discussion
City Manager
ImplementsGovernance
Operational AuthorityInform
Communications Strategy & Transparency
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Startup
Deployment
Operational
Competitive
Environment
Transparency
Communication Progression
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•Construction Metrics:
•Miles of Fiber
•Completed Fiber Areas
•Vault and Flowerpots
•Forecasted vs. Actual:
•Fiber Pulled
•Fiber Areas Complete
•Construction Notifications
•Service Availability
•Postcards to income qualified customers Future•Communication Transparency Strategic Meeting
•Take Rate / Market Share
•Available service areas
•Communication plan for fiber areas exceeding our 9-month standard
Limitations•Deployment:
•Specific timelines
•New areas
•MDU/commercial entry & new builds
•Marketing strategy
•Pricing strategy
•Any other matters
allowed under Colorado
law
Planned vs. Actual: Staffing
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Planned InputsCurrent Status
Standard business hoursAdded 24/7, 365 support coverage
Limited personnel requirementsChanged staffing model –added critical positions
Staffing limited to Connexion only; no cross-
departmental resourcing
Sharing pool or integration (or both) –IT and Light &Power,
GIS (Geospatial Informational Services),Customer Service
Representatives,Billing,etc.
Planned vs. Actual -Construction
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Planned InputsCurrent Status
70,000 premises77,700 premises
72% vacant conduit48% vacant conduit
828 miles of fiber938 miles of fiber
Construction
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•Provide fiber service in the fastest and the most efficient way possible.
•Rolling design build -design & construction.
•Building in different locations at the same time.
•Continue to release new neighborhoods for service weekly & sign-up customers
daily.
•Completion in Q4 2022.
https://www.fcgov.com/connexion/reports
Atlantic Engineering Group (AEG)
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Four Construction Aspects:
•Boring
•Vaults
•Pulling Fiber
•Splicing Fiber
OnTrac
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Digital Divide or Digital Equity?
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Digital equity requires acknowledging that some populations need
more support than others in order to get online.
Addressing affordability, equipment barriers, digital literacy, and/or
technical support are key success factors.
Digital Inclusion | Digital Literacy | Digital Access:
Equipment, Availability, Price
Digital Equity Program
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1 Gig Internet + Wireless at $19.95 Per Month
Reduced Cost With No Reductions in Speed or Service
Program Development Aligned with Build Out
Leveraging City Income Qualified Programs
A Range of Established Resident Need: Seniors, Families,
Income Levels
City Programs from Recreation to Grocery Rebate
Community Partnerships
Affordable Housing: Neighbor to Neighbor and CARE
Housing
Resident Enrollment Plus Funding for Digital Learning Labs