Network NYC: Building the Broadband City

This report, unlike the EDCs, seriously advocates for a very involved City government in the telecommunication market. Instead of being so concerned with the market forces correcting issues of deployment and access, this report clearly advocates for government based initiatives to address those problems.

Cost reduction is a major goal of this City Council report and the main recommendation to tackle the issue is some type of City ownership of infrastructure. Coordinating the efforts of various organizations procurement of fiber would prevent duplication as well as make a better case for a multi-million dollar investment of capital to build a citywide MAN (Metropolitan Area Network). That plan would stabilize bandwidth cost despite increasing need, thus saving the city money. The report examines two different options for City fiber use, one modeled after Chicago and the other after NYSERNET, but ultimately relents that a gradual hybrid model may prove most practical for New York.

Collaboration with the MTA to assist developing the subways as fiber conduit and also leasing the dark fiber the MTA already owns is another suggestion where the City can combine its efforts at being more cost effective and efficient in the realm of telecommunications infrastructure.

The report specifically outlines actions that the City should take as well as actions that the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications should carry out. For the DoITT the report tasks an analysis of all of the City’s telecommunications needs and to issue a five year plan every three years. Along with that they should also create a panel of non-vendor associated academics, technologists, and community members to develop a comprehensive feasibility study for a redesigned municipal network (unlike the members that comprised the EDCs panel). But most importantly the report urges the DoITT to exercise centralized control over all telecom procurement and planning just as it does, to a greater degree, over technology. That way instead of multiple interests investing in their own fiber thus spending more for more than is needed, the infrastructure can be consolidated for more efficient use.

For the City itself, the report allocates conducting a multi-agency study to analyze the potential security benefits or risks of a fiber/wireless MAN. Also the City should establish a formal coordinating committee with the State so fiber deployments are mutually beneficial and cost-effective and negotiate with the MTA in order to obtain favorable rental rates for a municipal fiber MAN. To supplement wired infrastructure the report suggests that the City explore including free WiFi zones on the list of public amenities and aggressively engage public and private institutions in an effort to provide
free wireless access in New York City parks.

As far as funding for the proposed MAN initiative the Economic Development Administration (EDA) has recently announced that it has $228.12 million available for grants to support state, regional and community efforts to create wealth and minimize poverty.

The main principles in “Building the Broadband City” for implementing this network are that the City’s procurement of telecom services should be fully open to rigorous competition with substantial community involvement. Any excess fiber capacity built as a consequence of City funding should be open to third parties at competitive wholesale rates and preferential rates for municipal rooftops and fiber access should be set for community networking initiatives.

You can read the full report here.