Government Broadband Applications Gary Shelton, County Administrator, Scott County

Scott CountyFiber Project

Blandin Broadband Conference

December 4, 2008

Communication / Information Issues

Growing need for big broadband connections – internally, externally, governmentally, commercially

Increasing expense despite declining rates the overall expense – due to increased capacity needs – is increasing

Costs and bandwidth needs are stifling integration and many creative efforts and integrations – progress fails as discussions never get past bandwidth discussion

Disparate access – even within County borders

Communication / Information Strategy Development of “trusted” communication and information

network(s) – locally, regionally, nationally (“blueprint” for interoperability)

Access to broadband – fixed and mobile platforms (“blueprint” for infrastructure)

Industry direction, standards or guidelines applicable to interoperable communication and information systems (“blueprint” for exchange)

Structured funding, procurement, and implementation process Principles, guidelines and procedures to foster development

and implementation of a coherent and need-driven communication / information system

Facilitation of cooperation and coordination among the related local and regional organizations necessary to maximize shared benefits and reduce unnecessary duplication of efforts

Guiding Principles

Secure Government Network

High, Scalable Bandwidth

Shared Government

Services

Open and Independent Architecture

Externally had a need for better access to Minnesota’s High Capacity Backbone

Borrowed staff from Dakota County to provide guidance and expertise

Mapped publicly owned fiber – discovered there was virtually no publicly owned fiber (no islands to connect) – only real fiber assets were those that County, City of Shakopee and Shakopee Schools had jointly built in 2005

Scott County Planning & Implementation

Developed a plan to construct a publicly owned fiber backbone that would connect:

All county owned facilities – large and small All 800 MHz Towers All libraries All city halls / police departments All school districts Directly to Minnesota’s State High Capacity Backbone Directly to Minnesota’s Commercial Telecommunications Hub at

511 Building Directly to Dakota and Carver Counties Directly to Minnesota State University at Mankato


Issued RFP and developed public / private partnerships between the County and two companies to:

Construct a 98 mile (84 fiber) backbone throughout the County Construct connecting laterals to libraries, cities, etc. Lease / manage (non-restricted fiber) in Metro Ring Offset maintenance backbone maintenance costs Construct interconnection to Dakota and Carver Counties Construct interconnection to MSU - Mankato

Developed cooperative approach with State Office of Enterprise Technology (OET) to provide network equipment, network management, and share some costs.


Developed co-operative approach (agreements) with Cities, and Schools to share fiber assets and lateral maintenance costs

Created a robust fiber County Owned Network that interconnects the various agencies and provided big broadband capabilities to their facilities and the State

Improved services and reduced costs Added competition – potential for economic development Potential concerns:

Long term cost reductions dependent upon continued cost sharing with private companies

Competition with private sector interests


Integrate networks: Scott – build connection to Dakota County network through Lakeville Schools & Dakota – build connection to Scott County’s leased fiber at Northern Service Center Provide Scott with

A redundant (southeastern) route to OET and Metro Ring Ability to more effectively and efficiently share resources with

Dakota County IT / GIS Provide Dakota with

An alternate (non leased) network path from Northern Service Center

Increased capacity (OC12 to Gigabit) to State/OET Ability to more effectively and efficiently share resources with Scott

County IT / GIS Potential means to leverage fiber to further economic development

Scott / Dakota Collaboration

Connect Networks: Scott & Private Provider – build connection to MSU Mankato network with joint construction and interconnection with Blue Earth County and City of Mankato

Provide Scott with A redundant (southern) route out of Scott County – to MNET Direct connection to MSU Mankato Reduced Costs Interconnection with additional counties

Provide Blue Earth and Mankato with Fiber path to OET and MNET Reduced Costs

Provide OET with Fiber path to southwestern Minnesota Reduced Costs

Scott / Blue Earth / Mankato Collaboration

Connect Networks: Scott & Private Provider – build connection to Carver County Government Center Provide Scott with

A fiber path to Norwood Young America 800 MHz Tower Redundant prime controller access Revenue Interconnection with additional county

Provide Carver County with Fiber path to OET and MNET Reduced Costs

Provide Chaska with Fiber path to OET and MNET Reduced Costs

Provide OET with Fiber path to southwestern Minnesota Reduced Costs

Scott / Carver / Chaska Collaboration

Outcomes

Scott County Fiber Backbone

Metropolitan Connection

Mankato Connection

Local Government Network

Scott County

Townships

JordanCity / Schools

New PragueCity / Schools

ShakopeeCity / Schools

SavageCity / Schools

Prior LakeCity / Schools

Elko/New MarketCity / Schools

Belle PlaineCity / Schools

MNET -- Minnesota’s Network for Enterprise Telecommunications High Capacity Backbone

Scott County

State of Minnesota

Apple Valley

Mankato

Rochester

St. Cloud

MarshallOwatonna

High capacity and highly redundant voice, data, video and radio (800 MHz) shared, secure and scalable system

Increased control and security of public safety and network communications combined with enhanced capabilities for long term NG9-1-1 strategy

Enhanced the ability to share applications, systems and to provide disaster operations and recovery Shared Voice over IP telephone network Shared remote IT Network and Desktop support – (after

hours support) Shared applications Shared (combined) data center, data storage capacity, and

disaster recovery site

Outcomes

Unlimited and county-wide access to distance training and learning opportunities

WIMAX wireless overlays within each city and potentially the townships to enhance Mobile Data Capabilities

Prepares the County (long term) for capacity needs within both the governmental and commercial areas

Controllable and declining (as opposed to growing) telecommunications costs – across all governmental units – state, county, city

A very short Return on Investment (ROI) - providing the best overall value to the taxpayers of Scott County

Outcomes

Questions?