Alameda Power & TelecomAn Enterprise of the City of Alameda

LAST-MILE TECHNOLOGY AND RFP DEVELOPMENT

Get into Telecom

• Decide what business you want to be in

• Select technology options

• Develop a technology selection RFP

Business Plan

• Market studies

• Service needs of customer base

• Capital expenditure

• Revenue requirement

• Schedule requirements

• Determine acceptable technical risk

• Management approval

Last Mile Technology

• Wireless data transmission

• Hybrid fiber cable (HFC)

• Fiber to the ….– Neighborhood– Curb– Home

Wireless Strengths

• Cellular radio based (licensed)

• Wi-Fi (unlicensed)

• Reuse of existing poles and ROW

• No service drop costs– Internet access, e-mail– Mobile dispatch– Automatic meter reading

Wireless Limitations

• Limited RF spectrum availability

• Fast-moving technology

• Can support only limited video

• High- and low-end competition

Hybrid Fiber Cable

• Mature technology

• Utilization of aerial and underground ROW

• 130 ch. Video capacity (860 mhz BW)

• Supports video, data, and telephony

Alameda P&T Milestones

• Alameda Power & Telecom HFC System

– Authority to proceed ~ June 1999– First customer ~ April 2001– 12,350 Customers ~ October 2004

HFC Challenges

• Competition– Incumbent CATV provider– Direct TV via satellite– Telephone system Internet access (DSL)– Niche customer wireless businesses

• Community wireless cooperatives• Coffee shop, marinas, school campuses

– Broadband over power lines? (BPL)

FTTx x = Neighborhood, Curb or Home

• Advantages of moving fiber toward customer

– Large delivered bandwidth– Totally passive outside plant– Reduced RF distortions– Reduce or eliminate FCC regulation

Fiber to the Home

• Challenges– Ultra bandwidth markets haven’t developed– Leading-edge techniques required– Fiber terminal equipment not yet standard– Customer provided terminal power– Limited source of skilled fiber technicians

Technology Selection RFP

• Translate business plan parameters into design requirements– Service requirements– Engineering estimates– Available capital– Available schedule time– Service area– Define acceptable technical risk

Evaluate Responses

• Qualifications• List previous completed work• Examples of estimates versus actuals• Independent, qualified consultant • Reference list• Job site visitations• Technology selection cost = 1% of

construction cost

Internal Resources

• Hire an enterprise champion

• Hire a technical expert in chosen technology

Choosing Technology

Alameda Power & Telecom2000 Grand Street

Alameda, CA 94501

• Jim Fleming:jfleming@alamedapt.com

• Joe Kohler: jkohler@alamedapt.com