DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Frisbie, P.E.
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S) IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT: Fiber Deployment Update
SUMMARY:
A briefing to provide an update on fiber deployment and related construction activities occurring in San Antonio.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In the spring of 2014, City Council approved ordinances authorizing lease agreements with Google Fiber Texas and AT&T for the use of City property for the installation of prefabricated communications equipment shelters to serve as networks nodes for the deployment of a city-wide fiber optic network. On August 5, 2015 Google Fiber announced that they would officially build a fiber-to-the-home network in San Antonio. On September 21, 2015, AT&T announced that their new high speed services would be available to select locations. In April of 2016, Google began construction on their one gigabit network with an anticipated four to five year build out.
Since the announcement of Google Fiber and AT&T to develop high speed internet access in the City of San Antonio, additional companies have also begun developing their fiber build-out, with the anticipation of increased construction taking place in 2017.
Previous Council Action
On March 13, 2014 City Council approved through Ordinance 2014-03-13-0153, an Ordinance authorizing a master lease agreement with Google Fiber Texas, LLC for the use of the City-owned property for the installation of prefabricated communications equipment shelters.
On April 10, 2014 City Council approved through Ordinance 2014-04-10-0218, an Ordinance authorizing a master lease agreement with AT&T for the use of the City-owned property for the installation of prefabricated communications equipment shelters.
On September 29, 2016 City Council approved through Ordinance 216-09-29-0757, an Ordinance authorizing Google Fiber Texas LLC to pilot the use of an alternate cable boring or trenching methodology known as micro-trenching within a defined geographic area located in Council District 6. Since then, other companies have also expressed an interest in participating in the pilot program. To date, none of them has started work using this new method.
On November 10, 2016 City Council approved through Ordinance 216-11-10-0894, an ordinance approving revisions to Chapter 29 of the Municipal Code which governs right-of-way management regulations to manage construction, excavation, and placement of utilities.
ISSUE:
The TCI Department provided an update to Council on November 2, 2016 on the status of the fiber deployment occurring in San Antonio.
Since then, Google has continued construction on their central backbone ring and it has been substantially completed. Google is completing final restoration where work has been performed before moving to the next phase of their construction. To date, City staff has not been notified on the construction of their next backbone ring. AT&T has completed approximately 1,000 miles of their fiber build out, with a projected 1,500 more miles of construction programmed for 2017. Other companies, such as Zayo and Conterra, have also begun construction and are anticipating increased construction activity throughout the City.
ALTERNATIVES:
This is a staff briefing intended for informational purposes and does not require alternatives.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This is a staff briefing intended for informational purposes and does not have a fiscal impact.
RECOMMENDATION:
This staff briefing does not necessitate a staff recommendation.