Request for Information from Broadband Service Providers: RFI VTA B

Transcription

1 Request for Information from Broadband Service Providers: RFI VTA B Canaan, Randolph, Brookfield, Northeast Kingdom Fiber Network Vermont Telecommunications Authority 100 State Street Suite 342 Montpelier, VT Tel Fax Release Date: April 2, 2014

2 Table of Contents 1. Purpose Technical Requirements for BBIDs Technical Requirements for Cellular Target Corridors Modem or Other Equipment Installation and Service Activation General Requirements for Internet Access Solutions: Maintenance and Support Service Provider Qualifications Financial Assistance or Development of Neutral Infrastructure Dark Fiber Network Expressions of Interest Proprietary Information Requests for Information Company Information Business Service Levels Deployment Factors Financial assistance and neutral infrastructure development Project Scope Interest in the Northeast Kingdom Fiber Network Additional Information Response Information Revisions to Notice Proposal Deadline... 7 Appendix A: BBID Maps... 8 Appendix B: NEK Fiber Network... 12

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5 1. Purpose The purpose of this Request-for-Information (RFI) is to identify broadband Internet access solutions in two approved Business Broadband Improvement Districts (BBIDs), one in Canaan and another along the Brookfield and Randolph border. In addition, the Canaan BBID also contains a Cellular Target Corridor that is a part of the VTA s Cellular Resiliency Project, and for which the VTA seeks to identify Internet access solutions to be used as cellular backhaul. BBIDs have been approved through a Request-for- Proposals process issued by the Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) on July 23, (See The Vermont Cellular Resiliency Project is more fully described in RPF VTA A, which sought a cellular operator for this project. (See Maps of the areas subject to this RFI are included as Appendix A. Furthermore, the Canaan BBID sits along the Northeast Kingdom Fiber Network, a dark fiber network managed by the VTA. This network may be a resource for respondents seeking to improve service in the Canaan BBID and Target Corridor. This RFI also seeks information and expressions of interest from service providers in using any portion of the entire Northeast Kingdom Fiber Network (not limited to the segment in Canaan), so that the VTA may connect potentially interested end users along these networks with any potentially interested broadband service provider. A Northeast Kingdom Fiber Network is attached as Appendix B. The VTA is seeking information from broadband service providers which may be able to reach the locations identified within each BBID or Target Corridor with broadband service levels that meet the technical specifications defined below. This RFI seeks to identify if there are service providers who are able to provide the specified broadband services to all locations identified within the BBIDs or Target Corridor at rates comparable to similar services offered elsewhere in the state, based solely on the expressed customer demand, and without VTA funding. VTA will facilitate communications between any respondents who are able to provide the requested services and the potential business users in the BBIDs and the VTA s selected cellular operator in the Target Corridor, with the objective of transitioning quickly to direct communications between the broadband service provider and the potential customers. If necessary, the VTA may facilitate questions that potential small business users may have about the proposed service, and will consider feedback from potential users about the proposed service. Although this RFI does not make available VTA funding to improve broadband service in the BBIDs and Target Corridors, the VTA also seeks comment from broadband service providers who may be interested in providing the requested service(s) if financial or other assistance is available. 2. Technical Requirements for BBIDs The business landscape in Vermont is diverse and includes many small businesses. Business locations as used in this RFI includes small offices/home offices operating from residential locations. Some business examples seen in these BBIDs include: movie and music creation with high file transfer needs, physicians and business professionals working on high definition medical imagery and remote work spaces. For these reasons the services provided to the districts must be of a business grade, with the 1

6 ability to offer Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to ensure capacity and quality of service is available at set rates. Services offered should support the following technical characteristics: a. Symmetric and asymmetric data rates from 10Mbps to 100MB today with preference for a service with the ability to provide Internet bandwidth above 100MB. b. Transport of voice and video traffic with RTT latency measurements less than 50 ms and jitter less than 10 ms. c. Dynamic and static IP addressing with IPv4 d. Availability of service 99.99% e. Outage notification system with a proven restoration protocol. f. Able to provide historical data to show Mean Time To Recovery (MTTR). 3. Technical Requirements for Cellular Target Corridors The Canaan Cellular Target Corridor is made up of Routes 114, 102, and 253 in the Canaan BBID. Broadband services are required for cellular backhaul in the Target Corridor delivered to small base station equipment to be mounted on utility poles along the Corridor route. These base stations do not have the same large capacity services required in the BBID areas and may use conventional, consumergrade broadband internet services (not point-to-point dedicated services), so long as the technical requirements meet or exceed the following: a. Uplink shall be 3mbps or higher b. Downlink shall be a minimum of 3mbps, but preference will be given to providers who can support greater than 10mbps c. RTT latency should be less than 50 msecs. d. Jitter should be less than 10 msecs. e. IP Addressing shall be IPv4, with the ability to support IPv6 f. Availability shall be 99.9%. g. Participant shall support dynamic IP addressing <static is preferred> h. Participant shall indicate availability of service level agreements i. Participant shall indicate service outage notification / restoration processes j. Modem / router must include the ability to support multiple devices, and provide the ability to act as a DHCP server. These circuits are intended to support cellular voice traffic and 2.5G cellular data in a limited geographic area at initial installation. Low cost of service per location is a priority. However, it is likely that the future broadband requirements for these sites will be higher as the cellular industry transitions more fully to the use of 4G/LTE. For this reason, availability of services consistent with the technical requirements for BBIDs is preferred, though not immediately required Modem or Other Equipment Participant shall either provide or identify any modem or similar equipment required to terminate service at the utility pole. Detailed specifications regarding power, environmental, physical size, and mounting options are requirement. Up to 4 Ethernet ports are desired. The equipment must be 2

7 suitable for mounting onto a utility pole or including into an outdoor enclosure. Cellular carrier s outdoor enclosure could house a modem in an industrial/component format. Participant shall indicate installation options (whether Participant will install and any associated charges or whether Cellular carrier s deployment team shall install). The modem description should also include any SNMP information which may be available to Cellular carrier s network operations center to monitor the backhaul network (or Internet service). Any modem (or similar equipment) must be capable of operating in an outdoor enclosure in Vermont without heating or air conditioning. While Cellular carrier can provide battery backup, outages which exceed the backup time are possible, and a cold start will then occur. Participant should outline any restrictions on the modem for cold weather operations. Cellular carrier will request electrical service from the serving power company in the form of a traditional AC 10 Amp service. That power will be connected to a DC in an auxiliary battery backup enclosure, which will in turn power the micro site. Participant shall indicate any power requirements for their modem, and if they will supply power (and via what means) or if Cellular carrier needs to supply the power. The Participant should also indicate what, if any, power backup is available, and what DC voltage the modem requires, and if Cellular carrier may directly supply the required DC Installation and Service Activation Participant shall describe the process for installing any required modem and activating service. This includes any coordination with the utility companies or pole owners. Participant shall indicate what, if any, services are needed to be provided by Cellular carrier in support of modem installation or service activation. 4. General Requirements for Internet Access Solutions: 4.1. Maintenance and Support Participant shall outline processes for maintenance and support, including identification and response to service outages or service degradation 4.2. Service Provider Qualifications Responding service providers should have the following qualifications: A team / organization with demonstrated experience delivering the services of the type proposed The ability to provide sales and customer service support to users within the identified area The ability to sustain operations of the network supporting the proposed services over time The ability to provide 24/7/365 network operations support with a centralized support contact list. 3

8 The ability to provide a service deck with clear pricing for businesses looking for service after the initial District installation. Prices should be regionally competitive for like services. 5. Financial Assistance or Development of Neutral Infrastructure If no qualified service providers responding to this RFI are able to provide the specified services in one or both of the BBID or the Target Corridor at recurring and non-recurring rates comparable to similar services offered elsewhere in the state, the VTA will consider providing financial assistance or developing neutral infrastructure to help meet the need. Although the VTA may or may not provide such assistance, service providers who cannot meet the described need on their own are encouraged to comment on their willingness and ability to provide service if the VTA makes available one or more of these forms of assistance. Financial assistance may be provided in the form of a grant to a retail broadband service provider for capital costs of expansion or in the form of financial assistance to users to help pay for equipment or facilities required to receive the requested service (such as contributions to line extension costs or customer-premise wireless equipment). Neutral infrastructure may include dark fiber or towers. If the VTA chooses to develop dark fiber serving one or more of the areas identified in this RFI, fiber strands will be available for license to multiple service providers on terms similar (although not necessarily identical) to rates for other VTA developed or managed dark fiber projects. (See, for example, If VTA makes available grant funding, it will be offered through a competitive Notice of Grant Funding. If any of these forms of assistance are required, VTA will consider whether and how to provide assistance based on a number of factors, including: a. The magnitude of the need. How great is the difference between the identified need and services currently available? b. The feasibility and cost-effectiveness of improvement options. Is it technically and economically possible within available funding levels to fund infrastructure and service improvements to meet the needs identified? c. Long-term strategic opportunities. Is there an opportunity to meet long-term needs, not merely make short-term improvements? d. Ability to leverage other initiatives in the region related to telecommunications. Are there other telecommunications initiatives in the area that can be leveraged by VTA efforts to improve broadband Internet services? e. Distribution of funds. Geographic distribution around the state will be considered. f. Opportunities to meet multiple telecommunications objectives. Can a proposed project support improvement of both broadband Internet and cellular services? 6. Dark Fiber Network Expressions of Interest The VTA recognizes that many of the areas in the Northeast Kingdom do not currently have the services being sought above. Last fall the VTA completed a series of agreements that created a 160 mile fiber network in this area by bringing together five fiber owners and five funding sources. The VTA seeks to 4

9 gather responses from communication service providers that are interested in using the Northeast Kingdom Fiber Network. Access to the Northeast Kingdom Fiber Network will be available according to standard terms and conditions and does not require participation in this RFI. Further fiber information and standard terms and conditions can be found at The VTA requests that providers interested in either fiber to the premise or middle mile access respond to this RFI. Responses will be considered non-binding. Carriers responding to the RFI and engaging in negotiations for use of the fiber will be provided with information gathered by the VTA regarding potential users along the network. The Hardwick to Newport, Troy to Newport to Brighton, Norton to Canaan, and Bloomfield to Guildhall segments of the Northeast Kingdom Fiber Network are built. The remaining segments will be built by October 2014 except Bloomfield to Canaan will be completed by February of Proprietary Information Responses to this RFI should not include any information which the respondent considers to be proprietary. All responses will be considered public documents. (Please also see special instructions for information requested in section ) 8. Requests for Information Respondents may provide a single response for both BBIDs and the Target Corridor in this RFI, or may provide separate responses for one or more BBIDs and/or Target Corridors. Responses may vary by BBID or Target Corridor and responses may be submitted for only some of these geographic areas. Respondents may also choose to provide information only relevant to an expression of interest in using the Northeast Kingdom Fiber Network Company Information Please provide a contact person for the response, including name, address, phone number, and address Please provide summary information identifying how the company meets the Service Provider Qualifications described above Business Service Levels Please identify what technology the company uses to deliver business grade Internet services. (for example, DOCSIS 3.0, ADSL+, FTTx, LTE, WiMax, etc.) What Internet service tiers could the company offer business users within each BBID or in the Target Corridors? Please identify any technical limitations, and especially limitations related to any of the technical specifications described above Please identify what monthly recurring charges and non-recurring charges would be expected at each tier Please identify how these charges are similar to or different from charges for services the company offers in other parts of Vermont. 5

10 8.3. Deployment Factors Are any of the proposed services currently available from the company in the proposed areas? If not, please explain the time required to make services available Would the company require advance customer commitments in order to deploy service? If so, please identify how many and any other relevant aspects of the commitment that would be required Financial assistance and neutral infrastructure development Is the company able to provide the requested services in the BBIDs or Target Corridors without financial assistance from the VTA or the development of neutral infrastructure? Could development of neutral infrastructure by the VTA (towers or dark fiber) assist the company in its ability to provide service within the BBIDs or Target Corridors? Would the availability of grant funding be required in order for the company to provide the requested services within the BBIDs or Target Corridors? If so, please comment on how much grant funding the VTA should expect to make available Would the availability of financial assistance to end users make it possible for the company to provide the requested services within the BBIDs or Target Corridors? If so, please comment on how much funding the VTA should expect to make available Project Scope Please indicate whether the company would require infrastructure improvements outside of a BBID or Target Corridor in order to provide services within the BBID or Target Corridor Interest in the Northeast Kingdom Fiber Network Does your company have interest in using fiber along any part of the Northeast Kingdom Fiber Network? Responses will be considered non-binding Are you interested in receiving information regarding businesses, community anchor institutions, and individuals interested in higher speed services within the vicinity of the fiber network? Can the VTA share your potential interest in using the fiber with businesses, community anchor institutions and individuals along the fiber routes? The following information the VTA would be interested in gathering AFTER a response to this RFI under a confidentiality agreement: What services and benefits along the route would use of the fiber enable you to provide? What interconnections or end points would be of interest? Are you interested in providing fiber to the premise? In what areas? How many fiber strands are you interested in? 6

11 8.7. Additional Information Please provide additional information you feel is relevant to this project. 9. Response Information All communications concerning this Application are to be sent by to Telephone Number: (802) Fax Number: (802) Website: Revisions to Notice If the VTA determines that it is necessary to revise any part of this Notice, or if additional data is necessary to clarify any of its provisions, a supplement will be posted to the VTA website. The VTA reserves the right to amend the Notice at any time. 11. Proposal Deadline Proposals must be submitted in either PDF or Microsoft Word format via to info@telecomvt.org on or before 4:30 p.m. on April 23, Early responses are encouraged. 7

12 Appendix A BBID Maps 8

13 Canaan Businesses BUSINESS NAME ADDRESS TOWN Adrien Inkel Trucking P.O. Box 261 Canaan Alice M. Ward Library 27 Park Street Canaan American Legion Post #47 P.O. Box 357 Canaan April's Maple 2986 RTE 114 Canaan Baum Farm 409 VT RTE 102 Canaan Buckwheat Hill Farm 1137 Clay Brook Road Canaan Canaan Learning Center (Adult Ed) 5 Park Street Canaan Canaan Mobile Home Park P.O. Box 353 Canaan Canaan Petrol P.O. Box 202 Canaan Canaan Post Office 350 Christian Hill Canaan Canaan School District 100 School Street Canaan Canaan Town Office 318 Christian Hill Canaan Cowan, F.W. & Sons Surveying 4915 VT RTE 114 Canaan Daniel Johnson Construction 549 Christian Hill Canaan DTM Repair Shop P.O. Box 51 Canaan Hylie's Homemades P.O. Box 278 Canaan Indian Stream Health Clinic 253 Gale Street Canaan Jackson's Lodge 213 Jackson Lodge Road Canaan Kenneth Guay 1870 VT RTE 102 Canaan Kneading Knots 56 Gale Street Canaan Maurice's Motel 125 Main Street Canaan Mitchell Coderre Construction 3323 VT RTE 102 Canaan Morgan Wade (Lexis/Nexis) 1137 Clay Brook Road Canaan Maverick Moose Motel 4555 VT RTE 114 Canaan Norman Flanagan 2521 VT RTE 114 Canaan Norman Labrecque Construction 6646 VT RTE 102 Canaan NEK Community Action 253 Gale Street Canaan Northland Timeout Tavern 114 Gale Street Canaan Pride Builders - Building Contractor 511 Pollard Hill Canaan Randi Saari Building Contractor 374 Clay Brook Road Canaan Ray Dubreuil & Gail Fisher Dog Breeder 146 Clay Brook Road Canaan RM Enterprises, LLC 835 VT RTE 114 Canaan Squeegee Printers 4099 VT RTE 102 Canaan Stephane Inkel, Inc VT RTE 102 Canaan Thibeault Real Estate 59 Christian Hill Canaan Tim Harris Construction 3355 VT RTE 114 Canaan Wayne's Lanes/ Jo's Grill 56 Gale Street Canaan Yves Marquis Trucking P.O. Box 58 Canaan 9

14 Randolph / Brookfield Committed Business Sites: 10

15 Fat Toad Farm Kibbee Road Brookfield Bees 1148 Kibbee Road Spruce Lane Farm 501 Kibbee Road Tundratour 1300 Kibbee Road Home Engineering Co. 229 Kibbee Extension Neighborly Farms 1362 Curtis Road, Randolph Will Barry, DVM Dr. Barry Road, Brookfield, 11

16 Appendix B NEK Fiber Network 12