Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-06-2018 7-b - Broadband Initiatives and Event TimelineORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 6, 2018 SUBJECT: Broadband Initiatives and Event Timeline DEPARTMENT: Information Technologies ATTACHMENT(S): 1 Action Agenda Item No. 7 -b INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Northrup, Chief Information Officer, 245 -2280 PURPOSE: To receive an update on the County's current broadband initiatives and receive a timeline of relevant events. BACKGROUND: Since 2014, Orange County Information Technologies (IT) has been tasked with working toward improving broadband technology for Orange County residents. Many of the tasks below were accomplished through collaboration with residents, business partners, State and local representatives, government agencies, and towns. • The largest current initiative currently underway is the $500,000 Broadband Incentive Request for Proposals (RFP) whereby the County is soliciting Internet Service Providers (ISPs) for proposals on how to improve broadband in both unserved and underserved areas in Orange County. This Request for Proposal was released in January of 2018. The intention is to find a vendor that can improve broadband speed and services in the rural areas of the county. • A larger initiative in terms of dollars, but at this time only tangentially related to broadband, is the County's Fiber Project Phase 1. Currently, the County is partnering with the Town of Hillsborough in order to reduce costs for both parties. The County and Town are currently in the process of vendor section after successfully releasing an RFP in November of 2018. Phase 1 is currently funded in Fiscal Year 2017 -18, and Phases 2 & 3 are planned in upcoming fiscal years. Once complete, this project will connect County buildings from Cedar Grove to Carrboro and have fiber running east -west along the Highway 70 corridor connecting from the Efland Cheeks Community Center to points close to the Durham County line. The excess dark fiber will be available to other organizations and individuals outside of Orange County Government for both broadband and economic development purposes. • Orange County Chief Information Officer (CIO) Jim Northrup has attended and presented at multiple community meetings. Most recently, Orange County IT presented at the P Schley Grange along with Internet Service Providers and State representatives, including NC House Representative Craig Meyer. • Orange County Information Technologies has been acting as a clearinghouse for all resident broadband service issue concerns. Typically, the CIO responds to every Orange County resident email and call personally and tries to facilitate solutions between residents and ISPs while at the same time setting realistic expectations. Often this is simply a matter of connecting residents with the right person in the ISP's organization and, after making introductions, checking back in to ensure that all parties are communicating effectively. Broadband Timeline of Relevant Events • June 2017 — $500k for broadband incentives approved in County budget • Late 2016 — County works with Representative Craig Meyer to set meeting with CenturyLink. This meeting paved the way for CenturyLink to provide budgetary numbers for improving broadband in its service area and those numbers were used as a base number for the FY 2017 -18 $500,000 Broadband Incentive. • September - December 2016 — IT met with Federal Engineering and Emergency Services to discuss the positive impact proposed telecommunications towers may have on broadband services in rural Orange County. It was requested at that meeting that approximately 15' of vertical strata be reserved for placement of 3rd party wireless broadband equipment on any new towers to be constructed by Orange County. Discussions also included how both the County's telecommunication and fiber plans have synergies that may decrease long range costs and offer a more secure and reliable fiber connection to each proposed tower location. • July 2016 — Former Governor Pat McCrory released the NC broadband strategy report. No funding identified within this report for broadband improvements. • May 2016 — The County's public network buildout was completed in downtown Hillsborough and all County- occupied buildings. • March 2016 — WiFi -to -Go pilot began via collaboration by IT and the County Library. • March 2016 — The State assisted Orange County with identifying vertical assets - understanding the location and availability of county -wide vertical assets is important to businesses that want to bring wireless internet services into Orange County. • December 2015 — An ISP meeting on State /County collaboration occurred. • Late 2015 — The Orange Public + Education Network (OPEN) formed to foster collaboration and cost - sharing among Orange County and its municipalities. • August 2015 — The County's Broadband Survey closed. • June 2015 — The County's Broadband Survey was released. K • Apr. 2015 — The Broadband Initiative resident group was formed. • November 2014 — The Manager directed County staff to make a concerted effort to engage residents in broadband discussions. • June 2014 — January 2016 — Orange County leveraged its relationship with Time Warner resulting in Time Warner extending its wireless hotspots network throughout downtown Hillsborough and into Fairview and Cedar Grove Parks. Prior to the County's contact, Time Warner reported it was only going to deliver hotspot services to Durham and Chapel Hill. This service allows any individual to connect wirelessly throughout downtown Hillsborough and the parks for free. • 2011 — North Carolina House Bill 129 barred governments from using public funds to become Internet Service Providers. • 2010 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) publishes its National Broadband Plan. • 2010 — MCNC awarded federal funds for middle -mile network in rural NC. • 2009 — The US Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus bill included a provision to make loans to states for the purpose of broadband. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with receiving this report. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: There are no Orange County Social Justice Goals applicable to receiving this report. While broadband improvements are widely seen as scoring high on the social justice impact scale, this report only serves to inform the board on said improvements. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the report and provide feedback and questions as needed.