Broadband is a Crucial Ingredient

Transcription

1 A Broadband Recipe for Your Community: The Santa Cruz Model Tim Goncharoff Department of Public Works County Engineers Association of California League of California Cities Public Works Officers' Institute March 9 11, 2016 Sacramento, California Broadband is a Crucial Ingredient Broadband is a major driver of job creation and economic growth. Broadband helps people take advantage of new digital tools such as telemedicine, video on demand, GIS mapping, and video conferencing. New developments in health information technology and mobile health, such as ing X rays and other medical tests, require high speed broadband. Distance learning requires sufficient bandwidth to connect students across geographic areas. Broadband is essential for small businesses and rural communities High speed, universal broadband furthers productivity and generates powerful new efficiencies and economies of scale. Broadband creates jobs. Each tech job supports three jobs in other sectors of the economy. Philip Bond, President, TechAmerica.

2 Locally Grown Santa Cruz is close to Silicon Valley Thousands of people commute from Santa Cruz to Silicon Valley jobs every day Home to UC Santa Cruz Campus Major hub for start ups and innovation Inadequate internet access Geographical barriers Institutional barriers Repeated Excavation Expensive Inefficient Polluting Snarls traffic Requires plans and permits Difficult to track Reduces lifespan of roads The Answer? DIG ONCE!

3 The Dig Once Ordinance Streamlines and simplifies the process of installing and upgrading telecommunications equipment throughout the County Encourages investment in improvement and modernization of telecommunications infrastructure Levels playing field for all market competitors and service provider s Protects and controls access to public rights of way Helps close the digital divide Updates County policies and practices to recognize state and federal statutes Assesses fees sufficient to recover the actual costs of providing services but not to discourage improvement of necessary infrastructure Requires that all new development or substantial repair projects include installation of telecommunications cable, conduit and other related equipment Infrastructure shall be installed in or adjacent to County rights of way in conformance with current County standards All installations shall conform to County size, shape, location and other specifications The Master Lease Sets general terms and conditions for installation, operation, maintenance and upgrade of telecommunication facilities on County property or right of way Includes technical requirements for conduit type, location and installation Must go through Planning process and be approved by Board Individual projects require Facilities Lease Agreement, which spells out details of location, etc. Requires only administrative approval. Multiple Master Leases approved

4 Interagency Coordination Working with local counties, cities, colleges, universities and service providers Central Coast Broadband Consortium provides broader regional coordination Allows for more effective and efficient planning, development of common standards, leveraging of resources Improves access to funding Critical Components SUNESYS Connection from Silicon Valley to UC Santa Cruz $10.6 Million CPUC Grant to extend 91 miles of fiber backbone to Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey Counties Offers 100 times faster service at as little as a quarter of current cost Reduces dependence on established carriers Incentivizes private network improvements Provides service to unserved and underserved areas Hope to connect with San Luis Obispo County

5 Broadband Master Plan Guides future development Identifies local needs and opportunities Assesses options and costs Evaluates models for design, management and financing Establishes framework for partnerships Provides flexibility for changing technology

6 Accolades Santa Cruz County earns National Achievement Award for BROADBAND INITIATIVE from the National Association of Counties. Santa Cruz County s Broadband Initiative is one of the ten best government solutions designed to enhance customer service, help improve the quality of our business climate and grow jobs, according to the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. Broadband access is the great equalizer, leveling the playing field so that every willing and able person, no matter their station in life, has access to the information and tools necessary to achieve the American Dream. Michael Powell