CBG Communications, Inc

Report on the Wireless Broadband Needs Assessment Study for the Marin General Services Authority

Prepared by:

CBG Communications, Inc.

Thomas Robinson

Executive Vice President

Dick Nielsen

Senior Engineer

Constance Book, Ph. D.

Researcher, Elon University

March , 2007

CBG Communications, Inc.

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY i

Introduction i

Study Methodology i

Goals and Objectives iv

Potential Network Development Models vi

Policy Issues and Next Steps vii

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION 1

Overview 1

Study Methodology 2

SECTION A

REVIEW OF WIRELESS BROADBAND TECHNOLOGIES AND PROVIDERS 5

WIRELESS BROADBAND TECHNOLOGIES OVERVIEW 6

Introduction 6

Wi-Fi 6

WiMAX 8

Broadband over Cellular 9

CURRENT BROADBAND TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDERS OVERVIEW 11

Introduction 11

Wireline Providers 11

Dark Fiber Solutions 13

Wireless Providers 14

SECTION B

REVIEW OF RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY WIRELESS BROADBAND NEEDS AND INTERESTS 16

RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT 17

Introduction 17

Demographic Data 18

Access to Computers and the Internet 24

Philosophy Regarding Access to Technology in Marin 31

Marin Local Government Web Services 39

Business and Economic Development in Marin 41

Key Findings and Conclusions 42

SECTION C

REVIEW OF ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST WIRELESS BROADBAND NEEDS 47

NEEDS OF ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST 48

Introduction 48

Findings 48

Public Safety Organizations 48

Public Works, Transportation and Municipal Utility Organizations 56

Educational Community 60

Business Community 64

Community and Non-Profit Groups 66

Community Centers 69

Meeting with the City Managers 71

Conclusions and Recommendations 72

SECTION D

INTERFACE WITH CURRENT GOVERNMENT OPERATED NETWORKS 75

INTERFACE WITH CURRENT GOVERNMENT OPERATED NETWORKS 76

MERA (Marin Emergency Radio Authority) 76

MIDAS (Marin Information and Data Access System) 78

SECTION E

POTENTIAL REVENUES AND COMPENSATION FOR USE OF GOVERNMENT ASSETS 83

Introduction 84

Case Studies 84

MGSA’s Compensation Model 86

Power Consumption 87

SECTION F

GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND POTENTIAL WIRELESS BROADBAND NETWORK DEVELOPMENT MODELS 88

Introduction 89

Goals and Objectives 89

Potential Network Development Models 91

SECTION G

RFI DEVELOPMENT, REVIEW AND DISSEMINATION 93

RFI DEVELOPMENT, REVIEW AND DISSEMINATION 94

Policy Issues 94

Next Steps 97

SECTION H

POTENTIAL RFI SUBJECT AREAS 98

POTENTIAL RFI SUBJECT AREAS OVERVIEW 99

Introduction 99

Response Submission Section 99

Background Information 100

Technology Options 101

Infrastructure Considerations 102

Backhaul and ISP Access 102

Construction and Acceptance Testing 102

Network Reliability 103

Enablement of Applications 103

Business/Operational Model 104

Implementation of a Pilot 105

Costs and Revenue 105

Alternative Concepts 106

ATTACHMENT 1

RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY SURVEY INSTRUMENT MARKUP

ATTACHMENT 2

KEY TERM GLOSSARY

CBG Communications, Inc.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Introduction

At the request of the Marin General Services Authority (“MGSA” or “Authority”), CBG Communications, Inc. (“CBG”) has conducted a Wireless Broadband Needs Assessment Study. Tom Robinson, Executive Vice President of CBG, served as the project manager for this study. Dick Nielsen, Senior Engineer worked on a variety of technology, service provider, application and network development model review and analysis tasks. Dr. Constance Book performed a variety of research and statistical analysis tasks. The information gleaned in this analysis and our subsequent findings and conclusions have resulted in the recommended goals and objectives for potential wireless broadband system development in Marin found at the end of our Report.

The recommended goals and objectives can be embodied in a Request for Information (RFI). The intent of the RFI would be to obtain responses from a variety of vendors, service providers and system integrators in the wireless broadband industry that would provide information on how the needs and interests ascertained in this study could be met through development of a comprehensive and technologically advanced wireless broadband network. Consistent with this, a potential system model would ultimately need to be identified that would enable the highest degree of benefit at the lowest feasible cost and achieve the goals and objective described further herein, in order to meet the needs assessed.

Study Methodology

As part of the Needs Assessment study, CBG performed a variety of tasks. Specifically, the study included:

·  Review of a wealth of existing background information.

·  Performance of a high level analysis of existing telecommunications infrastructure and services in the area represented by the Authority. This analysis is incorporated in various sections of our Report, including, the section entitled “Current Broadband Telecommunications Providers Overview”; the findings detailed in the section describing the needs and interests of Organizational Communities of Interest; and specific findings related to services provided to the residential community as detailed in the section entitled “Residential Community Needs Assessment”.

·  Identification of the current and future demand for wireless broadband services in the Authority-member area. Similar to the above, some of this information, regarding the Residential Community, is detailed in the related section of the Report. A significant portion of the demand is related to potential Organizational use and is detailed in that pertinent section.

Specifically for the Residential Community, a statistically valid telephone-based survey was conducted throughout the Authority-member area (unincorporated Marin County and all of the incorporated jurisdictions) regarding use of a wide range of communications technologies and needs, interests and concerns related to wireless broadband system development and use. It was notable the survey length was substantial, but both the non-response rate and the survey abandonment rate were very low, indicating a population that was highly interested in the subject matter.

For the Organizational Communities of Interest, demand was identified through both focused discussions and in-depth interviews of representatives of a wide range of public agency, educational, business, community and non-profit organizations.

While the applications varied between interest groups, the core information presented and discussed generally followed the same lines to ensure that we could identify needs, interests, demand and concerns that were consensus needs across different Communities of Interest, as well as diverse needs and interests that may only pertain to one or a subset of the interest groups. We were also able to determine if there was a significant difference of opinion or perception related to any specific issue. Specifically, the core information presented and discussed included:

o  A description of wireless broadband technologies

o  A review of both general and specific potential services and applications

o  A discussion of infrastructure characteristics and the need for vertical assets and backhaul mechanisms

o  A description of key potential concerns including service, maintenance and repair; network survivability and redundancy; and cost

o  A review of potential system models, and

o  A description of the potential next project steps and action plan

Participants were encouraged to react to each of the topic areas and interact with each other related to expressed opinions, perceptions, needs, interests, demands and concerns.

Ultimately this resulted in a high volume of data within and across different Communities of Interest.

·  After review of the local government-owned and/or operated emergency communications and wide area networks (MERA and MIDAS), the potential synergies between these existing networks and possible wireless broadband system deployment were determined. This included both ways that the existing systems could help facilitate development of a new wireless broadband system, as well as ways that a new wireless broadband system could help extend the reach and effectiveness of the existing MERA and MIDAS networks.

From all the data gathered, we were then able to identify potential broadband models to meet the needs assessed, cost/benefits, uses and users, and potential revenue generation and in-kind service provision. These elements subsequently helped identify the goals and objectives that would need to be met by wireless broadband system deployment and the associated parameters that should be included in an RFI that would be sent out to broadband wireless system developers, service providers and system integrators, based on the needs assessed. These goals and objectives are recommended to be the following:

Goals and Objectives

·  A system with a “ubiquitous” coverage area across Marin, meaning wherever access to broadband communications would be useful to the Marin residential and organizational population – If this were not achievable, based on the economics of system development, the secondary goal would be to establish the broadest possible coverage area that would also allow interface with other systems that may provide coverage for areas unserved by a Wi-Fi/WiMAX system. If this were not achievable, there would still be value in pursuing coverage of currently unserved and underserved areas. The establishment of “hot zones” would only be useful for certain targeted residential and organizational purposes.

·  A system that provides the highest available bandwidth through technologically advanced means – Based on current technology, this most likely means employing mobile WiMAX. If this were not feasible from a timing or cost standpoint, then implementation of the highest possible bandwidth with assurance that the technology will be refreshed for truly mobile use, should be a goal during initial implementation. A system that enabled a high degree of portability, but not mobility, would be reduced in usefulness for the Marin residential and organizational populations.

·  A highly reliable system with secure transport for sensitive communications – The system should have significant backup and redundant mechanisms and a variety of authentication and authorization features.

·  A system that will assist public safety entities – A wireless broadband system that enables higher bandwidth and greater coverage than currently available to public safety entities, will greatly benefit first responders and emergency services operations. It would also enable the use of new services such as video.

·  A system that facilities applications for other public agencies – A high capacity wireless broadband system with an ubiquitous coverage area would be extremely helpful to a variety of field workers employed by multiple public agencies. It would also have great benefit for in-transit access. Further, it would significantly assist and enhance use of current and planned utility monitoring and control systems.

·  The system should significantly help reduce the digital divide – In order to do so, the system would need to, at a minimum, focus on unserved and underserved areas. It should also provide greater broadband capacity for public access at public facilities. It would have to provide no or low cost tiers of service. Grant funding would need to be available for end users to gain no or low cost access to computing devices in order to make maximum use of the broadband system. Also, funding and other resources to support computer literacy and other technology training would be needed.

·  The system must be constructed and operated in such a way as to not compromise environmental health – This will mean engineering, construction, installation, testing and continual monitoring of the system to assure the general public and end users that proper environmental health is maintained.

·  The maximum value should be sought for the use of public vertical assets – This would most likely be a combination of monetary remuneration and no or low cost access to broadband services. All public entities and the general public should gain access to low or no cost services in exchange for vertical assets, if economically feasible. If not, public safety and unserved or underserved populations should be the focus of low or no cost access, while any agency providing vertical assets should, at a minimum, get a reduced rate for service equivalent to the value of the vertical asset.

o  Monetary remuneration could come in the form of upfront compensation plus a percentage of gross revenues, or up-front compensation and an annual lease payment.

o  If use of public vertical assets were exchanged for services only, the utilization of such services would need to result in significant cost savings and cost avoidance, commensurate with the value of the public assets.

Potential Network Development Models

While the residential and organizational communities assessed expressed some level of interest in all of the models delineated below (i.e., some public agencies indicated that they preferred the public utility model because it gave them the most control over and use of the potential wireless broadband system; while a slight majority of the public indicated a certain level of distrust in comprehensive government involvement in development of such a system by showing their preference for a system that would simply be “encouraged” by local government), the most balanced perspective would indicate that some middle ground development model would be the most well-received and beneficial to Marin as a whole. In other words, the MGSA may wish to seek input on all of the models described below, but it should most likely lean towards one that enables enough oversight and control to ensure that public policy goals are met (such as an open competitive platform and reduction in the digital divide) and that necessary government services are provided, while ensuring that service operation responsibilities and financial risk are shouldered by a commercial provider/partner. The third party coordination and oversight models (such as the non-profit and JPA models described below) provide this type of balance. Essentially, the potential models available, based on those in use today in the development of wireless broadband systems, are:

·  Public/Private Partnership – any combination of public and private involvement to successfully deploy the wireless broadband system.

·  Non-Profit Owned – the development of a public non-profit or private non-profit to spearhead system deployment and manage system operation and service provision.

·  Joint Powers Agency (JPA) Managed – the development of a JPA to spearhead system development and coordinate system operation.

·  Commercial – a commercially sponsored and implemented model, including a model designed to be self-sustaining at some level of no or low cost user access by, for example, selling commercial advertising as the underlying support mechanism.

·  Public Utility – paid for, developed and managed by the member jurisdictions.

·  Private/Internal Network – wireless system deployment for the sole use of the jurisdiction and its allied public entities. This model, though, would not meet many of the needs assessed.

Policy Issues and Next Steps

Based on the needs assessment, we recommended to the MGSA, and they have agreed, to go forward with development and dissemination of an RFI. However, as part of the RFI development process and before the RFI is disseminated, it is very important that the MGSA seek input from other policymakers on the goals, objective and the organizational structure that may best facilitate wireless broadband system development in Marin. Most notably, the Marin Telecommunications Agency (MTA) and the JPA Oversight Committee both expressed interest in providing input into the RFI.