1. BROADBAND UPDATE
Administration, Finance and Policy Committee
February 3, 2015

2. Diagram of a
Modern Broadband
Network:
Fiber and Wireless

5. Fiber Installation by Trenching

6. Trenchless Installation

7. Percentage of
Households Served
by Terrestrial,
Non-Mobile
Broadband
Source: (2014) Connect MN, MN DEED

8. Percentage of
Households Served
by Terrestrial,
Non-Mobile
Broadband
(Metro Counties and
surrounding)
Source: (2014) Connect MN, MN DEED

9. Why Fiber?
• 30+ year asset with unlimited bandwidth potential
• Capacity to meet the growing demand of both residents
and businesses:
• Not just internet
• Emerging technologies:
 Advanced video and multimedia services
 HD videoconferencing
 Digital television, streaming videos
• Multiple devices and users at one time
• Bandwidth need grows 25-50% per year

10. The County Fiber Network
• 2014 Data Networks CIP, projects underway and planned
• Partnership arrangements
• State grant request for Northfield Project
• Current Ongoing Approach
• Dig Once Philosophy, Opportunistic, Collaborative, Cost Sharing
• Current Challenges in delivering county fiber projects:
• Capacity to design and manage projects
• Complexity of working with multiple partners

11. Multi-County Efforts to Interconnect
Data Networks
• Relationships and connections with neighboring counties
• Opportunities for collaboration
• Maximize capacity by sharing existing assets

12. Benefits of I-Net (Institutional Network)
• Umbrella management entity reduces costs for all members
• Sharing fiber is quicker and easier
• One stop management and tracking of fiber assets
• Improved traffic management reduces carbon footprint
• Eliminates redundancy, improves resiliency and reliability of
government services
• Public safety, fire/rescue, water/sewer monitoring, etc.
• Reduced cost of fiber maintenance
• I-Net necessary step to developing the C-Net

13. Benefits of C-Net (Commercial Network)
• Leverages existing investments by County and cities
• Maximizes benefits of future County investments
• Reduces bandwidth and service cost to businesses
• Powerful business recruitment tool
• Job creation and retention
• “We can give you whatever amount of bandwidth you need to run your
business”
• Creates revenue streams to pay back capital investments
• Attracts private investment for residential fiber

14. Design 9 Study:
Estimates of Existing FiberAssets within Dakota County
State of MN 26 miles
City of West St. Paul 2.5 miles
City of South St. Paul 374 feet
City of Rosemont 1.2 miles
City of Farmington 4.8 miles
City of Eagan 17 miles
City of Burnsville 27 miles
City of Apple Valley 10 miles
Dakota County 122 miles
• Study concludes that substantial benefits are realized
through enhanced I-Net and C-Net

15. Resources & Authority
Dakota County
• Serve governmental
purposes-now and future
• 122 miles of fiber and
more under development
• $4 million additional
County investment
expected through 2019
• Technical expertise and
partnerships
CDA
• Economic development
• Staff and financial support for
study and consultants
• I-Net to connect the senior
and workforce housing
developments for
efficiencies in facilities
management
• Improve broadband access
for CDA residents and to
further countywide economic
development goals

16. Next Steps
 Partner Organization Staff Prepare Draft Framework for
Joint Powers Agreement (JPA)
 Update Local Elected Officials
 Begin Formulation of JPA
 Adoption
 Implementation
 Promote Economic Competiveness!
Increase Fiber Use and Access for Residents and Business

17. Questions & Discussion