FCC Item of Interest re National Broadband Plan: Cost of Connecting Anchor Institutions to Fiber

[Hurley, Jeannene (MDE)]

Comments Due October 28
 
 Released:  10/08/2009.  COMMENT SOUGHT ON COST ESTIMATES FOR CONNECTING ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS TO FIBER. (DA No.  09-2194). (Dkt No 09-137 09-47

09-51 )  NBP PUBLIC NOTICE #12, PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED. Comments

Due:  10/28/2009.  WCB . Contact:  Randy Clarke at (202) 418-1500 http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-2194A1.pdf

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-2194A1.txt

 

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation filed a cost model and cost estimates of providing fiber optic 

connectivity to anchor institutions, such as public schools and libraries, community colleges, and 

hospitals.

  The Gates Foundation cost model is attached to this Public Notice as Appendix A.  Below, we 

seek input on targeted questions related to the cost estimates and models set forth in this filing. 

1. Are there other categories of buildings that should be considered anchor institutions?  

2. How well do the four categories of population density (dense urban, urban, suburban and rural) 

segment anchor institutions?  Is there need to further divide, for example, the rural grouping (<1,000 

persons per square mile) to treat more remote areas differently?  

3. How accurate is the assumption that 80% of anchor institutions lack fiber?  Does it vary across the 

different population-density groups?  Does it vary by type of anchor institution?  

4. To what extent are the cost estimates for bringing fiber to individual buildings accurate?    

a. Are the average loop lengths a reasonable representation of the distance to currently available 

fiber access points for each density group?  

b. Are the costs for aerial and trenched deployment representative?  

c. Is the ratio of trenched to aerial deployment in the high-end cost estimate reasonable for urban 

and suburban areas?  

d. To what extent will aerial plant be available in urban and suburban areas?  To what extent will it 

be possible to add fiber to existing utility conduits or make use of dark fiber, thereby reducing trenching costs, in urban and suburban areas? 
e. Is it reasonable to assume all-aerial installation in rural areas?  Is the assumption about requiring 
30% new poles accurate?  Is the $2-4 per foot cost reflective of the cost of these new poles?  
f. Is the termination cost per building accurate?  Is it reflective of both equipment of sufficient 
capacity and of the labor required to install it?  
5. What incremental inside-wiring, or campus-wiring, costs should be added to these estimates?  For 
what type of institutions in what geographies?  
6. To what extent will right-of-way issues lead to incremental costs not reflected in these estimates? 
 How will right-of-way issues impact the timeline of build-out to these institutions?  
7. Should operating expenses be a consideration when calculating cost for connecting anchor institutions 
to fiber?  What operating expenses would be associated with running these networks, and how would 
those vary by type of institution and geography?  
8. To what extent will providing fiber to these institutions improve the build-out economics in currently 
un- or under-served areas?  
9. To what extent will providing fiber to these institutions directly assist last-mile build-outs in currently 
un- or under-served areas?  For example, will bringing fiber to local schools generally provide shorter 
loop lengths to surrounding homes, or is the location of the communications plant relative to the 
school and community the primary driver?  How will that vary by population density?  
All comments should refer to GN Docket Nos. 09-47, 09-51, and 09-137.  Please title 
comments responsive to this Notice as "Comments or Reply Comments-NBP Public Notice # 12."  
Further, we strongly encourage parties to develop responses to this Notice that adhere to the 
organization and structure of the questions in this Notice. Interested parties may file comments on 
this Notice on or before October 28, 2009. 

 

                  

 

Debra M. Kriete

717 232 0222 voice

717 232 3705 fax

 

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