Gustavus Broadband Update: Design Phase, Funding, Middle Mile, Project Management

[Nathan Borson]

Design Phase 

We are attempting to launch the second phase of the Gustavus Broadband Project, the design phase. Activities in this phase include:

• Update the 2012 Gustavus Broadband Plan.
  
• Identify and include faster, cheaper upstream Internet access.
• Add voice (phone) service.
• Plan for funding from a construction loan to be repaid from the FCC's Connect America Fund.
• Identify the partners that will either be the phone company or enable the city to be the phone company that receives the Connect America Fund subsidies that will repay a construction loan.
• Do the engineering that will result in final plans, bills of materials, construction cost estimates, and RFQ for construction.
  
• Plan for the environmental, historical, and right-of way studies and permits that will be required for construction.
  

To launch this phase of the project, we require additional funding. The total cost of this phase, excluding permitting and environmental compliance work, is estimated at $143,000. We still have about $23,000 left from our FY12 state capital planning grant, and the city pledged $50,000 for GCN last year, leaving a gap of about $70,000.

Capital Request 

The Gustavus Community Network is requesting $70,000 to complete the funding for the broadband project's design phase. On Monday night, the Gustavus City Council will consider whether to submit that request to the Alaska State Legislature and what relative priority to give it.

Middle Mile 

Faster, cheaper upstream Internet access remains the crux of our broadband efforts. If we are stuck with the monopoly AT&T connection to the rest of the world that we have now, we cannot justify the proposed last-mile network. A potential new middle-mile provider has said he will have news next week about his plans for Gustavus.

Project Management 

Corvid Computing's contract for managing this project expired December 31, 2014. A new contract for project management will be needed to continue into the design phase.

Next Steps 

• Continue discussions with potential middle mile provider(s).
  
• Continue watching FCC for Connect America Fund developments, though we expect no action in the near future.
  
• Seek funding for design phase.
  
• Contract for design phase project management.
  
• Proceed with plan revisions and design phase (only) if and when cheaper, faster upstream Internet access becomes imminent.
  

The broadband project web site has been updated with this post. You

can always go there to see the latest news and status:

https://sites.google.com/a/corvid.info/gustavus-broadband-plan/

Nate

Nathan Borson, Co-Owner

Corvid Computing, Project Manager

City of Gustavus Broadband Plan

http://bit.ly/r48JAh

(907) 697-2810