Broadband Task Force -Regular Meeting - DRAFT
February 25, 2015
Ackermann Room, Cambridge City Hall
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Members Present:
Ben Compaine,
Susan Fleischman,
Jerrold Grochow,
Ming-Tai Huh,
James Lesie,
Jason Liss,
Patrick McCormick,
Ed Naef,
Anne Schwieger,
Jonathan Speiser,
Saul Tannenbaum,
Nate Thames,
Chris Yu
City Staff Present:
Kathy Watkins,
Lee Gianetti,
Mary Hart,
Lisa Peterson, and
Steve Lenkauskas
Meeting Agenda:
1. Opening Remarks/Comments
2. Task Force Member introductions
3. Discussion of Task Force Logistics
4. Discussion of Consultant Services
5. Public Comment
Discussion: (It was announced that the meeting would be recorded by a member of the public via audio device)
Members of the task force introduced themselves and briefly discussed their backgrounds and their interest in serving on the task force.
It was discussed that the Broadband Task Force will hold regular meetings at the interval of one every other month, for approximately the next 12- 18 months.
This schedule will respect the time commitment of Task Force Members and allow sufficient time for the consultants to conduct work between meetings.
Dates of meeting will be posted on the Broadband Task Force website as well as all documents from meetings.
It was discussed that this is an advisory committee to the City Manager and not a public body; however, we will conduct open meetings and encourage public participation.
The Task Force will, as its final product, create a report to the City Manager with its recommendations for improving access to broadband services in Cambridge.
Task Force discussed the status of the City’s hiring of a technical consultant to assist the task force.
Discussed how members can participate in the hiring process, which is not a public process.
Staff will find ways for members to be involved, if they want to.
Members will email Lee Gianetti https://www.cambridgema.gov/CityManager/~/link.aspx?_id=E299BC1904464CD4B0387F87D0951763 what types of information, background or research would be helpful to the task force in order to conduct its work; also they will send information, articles or research that they think is important to share with their colleagues.
This information will be used to set agendas for upcoming meetings.
A number of ideas were talked about ranging from demographics in the city to a survey or broadband services in Cambridge.
Public comment was held.
Meeting adjourned.
Handouts: Feb. 25 2015 Task Force Meeting Handouts, available on the Broadband Task Force Website:
http://www.cambridgema.gov/citymanager/broadbandtaskforce
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Broadband Task Force -Regular Meeting - DRAFT
April 9, 2015
Ackermann Room, Cambridge City Hall
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Task Force Members: Ben Compaine, Susan Fleischman, Jerrold Grochow, Ming-Tai Huh, James Lesie, Jason Liss, Patrick McCormick, Ed Naef, Anne Schwieger, Jonathan Speiser, Saul Tannenbaum, Nate Thames, Jacob White, Chris Yu
(attendance not recorded – TF will reconcile attendance prior to adopting minutes)
City Staff Present: Kathy Watkins, Lee Gianetti, Mary Hart, Lisa Peterson, and Steve Lenkauskas
Meeting Agenda:
• Opening Remarks/Introductions/Updates
• Presentations to the Committee
• Comments by elected officials
• Discussion about how the recent actions of the FCC affects broadband options for municipalities
• Discussion about broadband technologies and potential 5G impacts
• Other Items
• Public Comment
Discussion: (It was announced that the meeting would be recorded by a member of the public via audio device)
Councillor Nadeem Mazen and Councillor Leland Cheung spoke to the Task Force about their vision for the task force and their thoughts on municipal broadband and the problems that need to be solved.
Sharon Gillett, Principal Networking Policy Strategist, Mobility and Networks Research Group, Microsoft Research made a presentation to the Task Force on how the recent actions of the FCC affects broadband options for municipalities.
She discussed concepts of affordability and literacy, universal service requirement, lifeline program, competition in the market, and how the FCC is preempting states from banning municipal internet. Discussion ensued with the task force.
Task Force Member Ed Naef gave a presentation on the various types of broadband technology and the potential impacts of 5G.
He explained to the committee the various technologies that are involved with broadband, how they work and the limitations that are involved with each. Ed sketched out the various models on a white board.
Discussion ensured with the task force members
Public comment was held.
Meeting adjourned.
NOTE: The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General determined on August 9, 2016 that the Broadband Task Force is a public body and that the City needs to create minutes for all previous meetings to the best of its ability, through whatever means are available, including the memories and individual notations of the attendees.
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Broadband Task Force -Regular Meeting - DRAFT
June 17, 2015 6:00 P.M.
Ackermann Room, Cambridge City Hall
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Task Force Members: Ben Compaine, Susan Fleischman, Jerrold Grochow, Ming-Tai Huh, James Lesie, Jason Liss, Patrick McCormick, Ed Naef, Anne Schwieger, Jonathan Speiser, Saul Tannenbaum, Nate Thames, Jacob White, Chris Yu
(attendance not recorded – TF will reconcile attendance prior to adopting minutes)
City Staff Present: Kathy Watkins, Lee Gianetti, Mary Hart, and Steve Lenkauskas
Meeting Agenda:
o Opening Remarks/Introductions/Announcements
o Consultant Services Update
o Presentation/Discussion:
Digital Divide and Digital Equity
Community Outreach Task Force Member
o Updates Any other items that may properly come before the Task Force
o Public Comment
Discussion: (It was announced that the meeting would be recorded by a member of the public via audio device)
City Staff provided an update on the hiring process for the consultant for the Broadband Task Force.
City is finalizing the agreement with Tilson.
Provided biographical members of the Tilsion team.
They will be at the next meeting of the task force.
Also discussed survey needs.
Members of the task force made presentations on various perspectives of digital divide and digital equity, data related to the digital divide, update on efforts occurring at the Cambridge Housing Authority, previous pilot project at Newtowne Court and background on the 2006 Boston wireless task force.
Staff will try to arrange a future meeting with Cliff Cook from the Community Development Department to talk about city demographics.
Additionally, upcoming broadband conference was discussed.
A number of task force members will be in attendance.
Public comment was held.
Meeting adjourned.
Handouts: June. 17, 2015 Task Force Meeting Handouts and slide decks, available on the Broadband Task Force Website: http://www.cambridgema.gov/citymanager/broadbandtaskforce
NOTE: The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General determined on August 9, 2016 that the Broadband Task Force is a public body and that the City needs to create minutes for all previous meetings to the best of its ability, through whatever means are available, including the memories and individual notations of the attendees.
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Broadband Task Force -Regular Meeting - DRAFT
July 30, 2015 6:00 P.M.
Ackermann Room, Cambridge City Hall
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Task Force Members: Ben Compaine, Susan Fleischman, Jerrold Grochow, Ming-Tai Huh, James Lesie, Jason Liss, Patrick McCormick, Ed Naef, Anne Schwieger, Jonathan Speiser, Saul Tannenbaum, Nate Thames, Jacob White, Chris Yu
(attendance not recorded – TF will reconcile attendance prior to adopting minutes)
City Staff Present: Kathy Watkins, Lee Gianetti, Mary Hart, Lisa Peterson, and Steve Lenkauskas
Tilson Staff: Aaron Paul, Chris Campbell, Mike Hernon, Paul Fahey
Meeting Agenda:
• Opening Remarks/Comments
• Tilson/Task Force Member Introductions
o Project Overview and Discussion
o Broadband Analysis
o Community Engagement
o Legal Analysis
o Goals
o Final Report
• Public Comment
Discussion: (It was announced that the meeting would be recorded by a member of the public via audio device)
Members of the Tilson Team were introduced to the Task Force.
Tilson staff went over the scope of their engagement with the city and the expected timeline.
They explained that their goal is to assist the City staff in successfully delivering on this project.
Tilson discussed the goals for community outreach and the strategy they will use to achieve them.
Discussion on the outreach ensued and Tilson will incorporate feedback into the plan.
Tilson described how they will document the existing broadband service in Cambridge, the randomized survey the city will be conducting, surveys of providers and the evaluation of the City of Cambridge’s telecommunication infrastructure.
Tilson discussed with the Task Force how the information gathered during the process will help define the service gap that exists.
Tilson explained their approach for network engineering and cost estimates, business model options, case studies and the regulatory analysis.
They presented a draft schedule for the work of the task force.
Finally, discussion ensued on the immediate steps and the needs from the task force and the City around community engagement, survey methods, infrastructure survey and internal analysis.
Public comment was held.
Meeting adjourned.
Handouts: July 30, 2015 Task Force Meeting Handouts and slide decks, available on the Broadband Task Force Website:
http://www.cambridgema.gov/citymanager/broadbandtaskforce
NOTE: The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General determined on August 9, 2016 that the Broadband Task Force is a public body and that the City needs to create minutes for all previous meetings to the best of its ability, through whatever means are available, including the memories and individual notations of the attendees.
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Broadband Task Force -Regular Meeting - DRAFT
September 16, 2015 6:00 P.M.
Sullivan Chamber, Cambridge City Hall
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Task Force Members: Ben Compaine, Susan Fleischman, Jerrold Grochow, Ming-Tai Huh, James Lesie, Jason Liss, Patrick McCormick, Ed Naef, Anne Schwieger, Jonathan Speiser, Saul Tannenbaum, Nate Thames, Jacob White, Chris Yu
(attendance not recorded – TF will reconcile attendance prior to adopting minutes)
City Staff Present: Kathy Watkins, Lee Gianetti, Mary Hart, and Steve Lenkauskas
Tilson Staff: Chris Campbell
Meeting Agenda:
• Introductions
• Project Process Schedule
• Alignment of Goals
• Guidance on Early Steps
• Community Engagement
• Survey Method
• Survey of Infrastructure
• Internal Analysis
• Committee Discussion
• Next Steps
Discussion: (It was announced that the meeting would be recorded by a member of the public via audio device)
Chris Campbell of Tilson provided updates on the City data requests, existing broadband service inventory, physical asset inspection, telephone survey status, community outreach meeting plan, and review of project goals.
Task force members will provide Lee Gianetti with feedback on the telephone survey tool that is under development to help refine the questions that will be asked.
Opinion Dynamics of Waltham, MA has been hired to conduct the randomized telephone survey.
It will be conducted in Early October and should have the analysis by late October.
The Task Force discussed the two upcoming Stakeholder meetings: Meeting #1 on October 14 and Meeting #2 on October 15.
Meeting #1 is for the general public, public housing, small business and neighborhood groups and
Meeting #2 is for the Major employers in the city, higher educations and technology firms.
The structure of the meeting was discussed and the tasks that the task force can help with.
Member of the Task force will be assisting at these interactive sessions.
Themes from the July meeting were discussed in terms of emerging goals:
Affordably.
Choice,
supporting employers and small businesses, and
innovation and excellence.
The Task Force discussed the next steps for refining the goals:
reviewing the survey and the community outreach meetings,
input from the task force and city staff and finally,
setting priorities among the goals.
Goals will help define the approach taken moving forward.
Tilson briefly reviewed what they have learned with City fiber assets in the city.
They showed city owned fiber exists throughout most of the city and connects all municipal buildings.
Public comment was held.
Meeting adjourned.
Handouts: September 16, 2015 Task Force Meeting Handouts and slide decks, available on the Broadband Task Force Website:
http://www.cambridgema.gov/citymanager/broadbandtaskforce
NOTE: The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General determined on August 9, 2016 that the Broadband Task Force is a public body and that the City needs to create minutes for all previous meetings to the best of its ability, through whatever means are available, including the memories and individual notations of the attendees.
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Broadband Task Force -Regular Meeting - DRAFT
November 18, 2015 6:00 P.M.
Ackermann Room, Cambridge City Hall
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Task Force Members: Ben Compaine, Susan Fleischman, Jerrold Grochow, Ming-Tai Huh, James Lesie, Jason Liss, Patrick McCormick, Ed Naef, Anne Schwieger, Jonathan Speiser, Saul Tannenbaum, Nate Thames, Jacob White, Chris Yu
(attendance not recorded – TF will reconcile attendance prior to adopting minutes)
City Staff Present: Kathy Watkins, Lee Gianetti, Mary Hart, and Steve Lenkauskas
Tilson Staff: Chris Campbell
Meeting Agenda:
• Introductions
• Discussion of results from various surveys and community meetings
• Goal discussion
• Next Steps
Discussion: (It was announced that the meeting would be recorded by a member of the public via audio device)
Chris Campbell of Tilson presented the results of the randomized telephone survey that was conducted by Opinion Dynamics of Waltham.
Discussed the Key findings from the 2 outreach meetings held by the Task Force in October.
The Meeting #1 had several dozen people participate and most participants identified as residents, very few as businesses or providers of public service.
Meeting #2 had approximately 15 participates from higher ed, tech community and local entrepreneurs.
The task force discussed the outcomes of the meetings and how they can help refine the goals of the task force and info the process.
Tilson briefed the task force on the findings from the various services inventory that they have been conducting.
Finally, discussion ensured around the refinement of the goals for the task force.
The goals have been refined to:
affordability,
choice and completion,
supporting employers and small budinesses,
innovation and excellence and local control.
Discussion about how to scope out requirements for three levels of network solution options and provide high-level cost estimates took place.
Tilson and task force discussed approach of looking at 3 models: delivering a program, building a platform and providing a utility.
Tilson will look at a “Small” model: Fiber build-out to CHA buildings (a Program),
a “Large” model: City-wide Fiber-to-the-premise network (a Utility), and
a “Medium” model: still to be determined.
Next steps include a review business model options and providing guidance on potential challenges, as well as analyzing regulatory and public policy framework.
Public comment was held.
Meeting adjourned.
Handouts: November 18, 2015 Task Force Meeting Handouts and slide decks, available on the Broadband Task Force Website:
http://www.cambridgema.gov/citymanager/broadbandtaskforce
NOTE: The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General determined on August 9, 2016 that the Broadband Task Force is a public body and that the City needs to create minutes for all previous meetings to the best of its ability, through whatever means are available, including the memories and individual notations of the attendees.
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Broadband Task Force -Regular Meeting - DRAFT
January 27, 2016 6:00 P.M.
Ackermann Room, Cambridge City Hall
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Task Force Members: Ben Compaine, Susan Fleischman, Jerrold Grochow, Ming-Tai Huh, James Lesie, Jason Liss, Patrick McCormick, Ed Naef, Anne Schwieger, Jonathan Speiser, Saul Tannenbaum, Nate Thames, Jacob White, Chris Yu
(attendance not recorded – TF will reconcile attendance prior to adopting minutes)
City Staff Present: Kathy Watkins, Lee Gianetti, and Steve Lenkauskas
Tilson Staff: Chris Campbell
Meeting Agenda:
• Opening comments and announcements
• Presentation and discussion of draft summary network designs and business models
• Public Comment
Discussion: (It was announced that the meeting would be recorded by a member of the public via audio device)
Chris Campbell of Tilson presented the first draft of the network designs and business models that they have been working on.
Tilson walked the task force through each of the business models, the case studies and the three fiber designs that they have been working on.
Tilson discussed the high level network designs for a potential expansion of the existing municipal fiber network, with an eye to improving broadband service in underserved areas and population segments.
Tilson reviewed the business models of other community broadband initiatives around the United States, including an overview of the communities, the networks they built, how they were funded and operated, and by whom.
Tilson provided a similar discussion for other municipal broadband networks in the United States that specifically serve low-income residents.
In reviewing the business models Tilson discussed three main points of consideration:
Capital Cost Strategies.
How will the developer select the breadth of network to be built?
Will the network service all premises in the city, or will it only serve a subset of premises?
If the latter, will there be a way to easily add more connectivity in the future?
Funding and Financing Models.
As with any large, capital-intensive project, it is important to determine how the project will be funded.
Operating Models.
There are several possibilities, depending on who owns the network and who provides service on it.
Discussion ensued with the task force.
Tilson walked the task force through the draft case studies they have been working on.
The task force asked Yilson to make the case studies more relevant to Cambridge’s efforts.
Finally, Tilson talked about the 3 fiber designs they are producing for the task force:
Small Network: Fiber to CHA locations;
Medium Network: multi-neighborhood dark fiber; and
Large Network: Fiber to all premises in Cambridge.
Key assumptions, network design and operating expenses for each model were discussed.
Task force members engaged in discussion on the models and what information is mission from the analysis.
Public comment was held.
Meeting adjourned.
Handouts: January 27, 2016 Task Force Meeting Handouts and slide decks, available on the Broadband Task Forc Website:
http://www.cambridgema.gov/citymanager/broadbandtaskforce
NOTE: The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General determined on August 9, 2016 that the Broadband Task Force is a public body and that the City needs to create minutes for all previous meetings to the best of its ability, through whatever means are available, including the memories and individual notations of the attendees.
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Broadband Task Force -Regular Meeting - DRAFT
March 2, 2016 6:00 P.M.
Sullivan Chamber, Cambridge City Hall
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Task Force Members: Ben Compaine, Susan Fleischman, Jerrold Grochow, Ming-Tai Huh, James Lesie, Jason Liss, Patrick McCormick, Ed Naef, Anne Schwieger, Jonathan Speiser, Saul Tannenbaum, Nate Thames, Jacob White, Chris Yu
(attendance not recorded – TF will reconcile attendance prior to adopting minutes)
City Staff Present: Kathy Watkins, Lee Gianetti, and Steve Lenkauskas
Tilson Staff: Chris Campbell
Meeting Agenda:
• Opening Remarks/Comments
• Presentation and discussion on:
• Operating Models
• Funding and Financing Strategies
• Capital Cost Strategies
• Upcoming Steps in the Task Force Process
Public Comment
Discussion: (It was announced that the meeting would be recorded by a member of the public via audio device)
Chris Campbell from Tilson laid out the upcoming steps in the process:
Mid-March: Draft Full Report and Recommendations from Tilson to Task Force;
Late March: Written Task Force Comments on Draft;
Mid-April: Task Force Meeting to Discuss Differing Comments;
Late April: Revised Final Report and Recommendation from Tilson;
Mid-May: Task Force Meeting to Discuss Task Force Recommendations to the City
Tislon talked with the task force about the layout of the report:
Goals,
Existing Broadband Services,
Community Outreach Summary & Survey Results,
The Gap Between Current State and Goals, Business Models,
Capital Cost Strategies,
Operating Models,
Funding and Financing Models,
Sample Fiber Designs and High-Level Capital Cost Estimates,
Operating Expenses,
Case Studies and Lessons Learned,
Regulatory & Public Policy Analysis,
Conclusions,
Recommendations and Potential Next Steps.
Task force discussed the pros and cons with Tilson of three approaches to operating models:
Own and operate it yourself,
Own it and have a private partner / contractor operate it,
Anchor a privately owned and operated network.
Tislon reviewed with the task force, common funding sources and financing models and how they could apply to Cambridge.
Finally, the task force and Tilson discussed and reviews a “stop light” visual presentation around the alignment of goals and capital cost strategies with the three network design models.
Public comment was held.
Meeting adjourned.
Handouts: March 2, 2016 Task Force Meeting Handouts and slide decks, available on the Broadband Task Force Website:
http://www.cambridgema.gov/citymanager/broadbandtaskforce
NOTE: The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General determined on August 9, 2016 that the Broadband Task Force is a public body and that the City needs to create minutes for all previous meetings to the best of its ability, through whatever means are available, including the memories and individual notations of the attendees.
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Broadband Task Force -Regular Meeting - DRAFT
April 12, 2016 6:00 P.M.
Sullivan Chamber, Cambridge City Hall
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Task Force Members: Ben Compaine, Susan Fleischman, Jerrold Grochow, Ming-Tai Huh, James Lesie, Jason Liss, Patrick McCormick, Ed Naef, Anne Schwieger, Jonathan Speiser, Saul Tannenbaum, Nate Thames, Jacob White, Chris Yu
(attendance not recorded – TF will reconcile attendance prior to adopting minutes)
City Staff Present: Kathy Watkins, Lee Gianetti, Mary Hart and Steve Lenkauskas
Tilson Staff: Chris Campbell
Meeting Agenda:
6:00 P.M. Opening Comments
Review of draft Tilson Report
7:45 P.M. Public Comment
Discussion: (It was announced that the meeting would be recorded by a member of the public via audio device)
Task force began a page by page review of the draft Tilson report and recommendations prepared for the task force.
During this meeting that task force reviewed and copy edited the following sections:
Introduction,
Existing Broadband Services,
Community Outreach Sessions,
Survey Results,
Defining the Service Gap,
Business Models,
Fiber Designs and High-level Cost Estimates, and
Operating Expenses.
Over all the task force wanted to move many of the tables and charts to the appendix to help with the clarity of the report.
There was discussion about how this document would be transmitted to the council and how this report could capture the task force’s recommendation, which could be different than the Tislon recommendation.
The task force decided that they will create a concise cover letter that will serve as the transmittal letter to the City Manager.
A Between the April 12 meeting and the April 27 meeting, task force members will send the city comments on the case studies and the city will circulate the combined comments to everyone prior to the April 27 meeting.
The city will take the handwritten mark up from tonight’s meeting and begin to incorporate into a feedback document for Tilson.
Public comment was held.
Meeting adjourned.
Handouts: April 12, 2016 Task Force Meeting Handouts and slide decks, available on the Broadband Task Force Website:
http://www.cambridgema.gov/citymanager/broadbandtaskforce
NOTE: The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General determined on August 9, 2016 that the Broadband Task Force is a public body and that the City needs to create minutes for all previous meetings to the best of its ability, through whatever means are available, including the memories and individual notations of the attendees.
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Broadband Task Force -Regular Meeting - DRAFT
April 27, 2016 6:00 P.M.
Sullivan Chamber, Cambridge City Hall
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Task Force Members: Ben Compaine, Susan Fleischman, Jerrold Grochow, Ming-Tai Huh, James Lesie, Jason Liss, Patrick McCormick, Ed Naef, Anne Schwieger, Jonathan Speiser, Saul Tannenbaum, Nate Thames, Jacob White, Chris Yu
(attendance not recorded – TF will reconcile attendance prior to adopting minutes)
City Staff Present: Kathy Watkins, Lee Gianetti, Mary Hart and Steve Lenkauskas
Meeting Agenda:
6:00 P.M. Opening Comments
Review of draft Tilson Report
Discussion of Next steps
7:45 P.M. Public Comment
Discussion: (It was announced that the meeting would be recorded by a member of the public via audio device)
Task force did not have any additional comments on the case studies sections.
Members sent feedback to the city prior to the meeting.
The task force continued its page by page review of the draft Tilson report and recommendations prepared for the task force.
During this meeting that task force reviewed and copy edited the following sections:
Lessons Learned from Other Municipal Projects,
Regulatory and Public Policy Analysis,
Conclusion and Recommendations,
Next Steps, and
Executive Summary.
The task force discusses the pros and cons of the recommendation by Tilson that the city persue the medium build option.
The task force disagrees with this, but also feels that additional study is needed before they can make a recommendation to the City Manager.
They agree that they want to recommend a Phase II study to the city manager that is a municipal broadband feasibility study.
The city will take the handwritten mark up from the last two meetings and send the feedback document for Tilson.
Tilson will create a new draft, but to keep the process moving forward, we will try to minimize further editing.
It was decided after discussion by task force that the Tilson report will be Tilson’s recommendation to the City Manager and the Task Force’s recommendations will come in the form of a letter that they will create separately from the Tilson Report.
The City will set up additional meetings for the task force to work on their recommendation letter.
During our last meeting while reviewing the recommendation and next step sections of the draft report, discussion ensued about possibly creating a recommendation for a Phase 2 of this process rather than a specific option.
We discussed examples of additional analysis needed and additional questions needing to be answered before a specific solution should be recommended.
Task force agreed to the following next steps:
Task Force Members would send the city (by May 11, if possible) their draft recommendations for what needs to be accomplished in a phase 2,
what additional analysis needs to be completed, and
what questions still need to be answered;
Prior to the May 18 meeting, the combined proposals would be circulated to the Task Force; and
the May 18 meeting would be a working meeting (without Tilson) to work on coming up with the recommendations of the Task Force
Public comment was held.
Meeting adjourned.
Handouts: The April 12, 2016 Task Force Meeting Handouts are the documents used at this meeting and available on the Broadband Task Force Website:
http://www.cambridgema.gov/citymanager/broadbandtaskforce
NOTE: The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General determined on August 9, 2016 that the Broadband Task Force is a public body and that the City needs to create minutes for all previous meetings to the best of its ability, through whatever means are available, including the memories and individual notations of the attendees.
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Broadband Task Force -Regular Meeting - DRAFT
May 18, 2016 6:00 P.M.
Ackermann Room, Cambridge City Hall
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Task Force Members: Ben Compaine, Susan Fleischman, Jerrold Grochow, Ming-Tai Huh, James Lesie, Jason Liss, Patrick
McCormick, Ed Naef, Anne Schwieger, Jonathan Speiser, Saul Tannenbaum, Nate Thames, Jacob White, Chris Yu
(attendance not recorded – TF will reconcile attendance prior to adopting minutes)
City Staff Present: Kathy Watkins, Lee Gianetti, Mary Hart, Lisa Peterson and Steve Lenkauskas
Meeting Agenda:
• Opening
• Continued discussion of the draft Tilson Report and Task Force recommendations
• Next Steps
Discussion: (It was announced that the meeting would be recorded by a member of the public via audio device)
The City compiled and sent the feedback and comments from the last two editing session to Tilson. for incorporation and/or revision.
Building on the discussion at the last meeting, the task force discussed creating a recommendation for a Phase 2 of this process rather than a specific option.
The task force discussed examples of additional analysis that they feel is needed and at what additional questions need to be answered before a specific solution should be recommended to the City manager.
The task force discussed that the scope of Phase I was too broad, however it yielded a lot of good information.
A phase II recommendation needs to be highly focused and the scope of work created should be very specific.
The task force and city staff discussed the need to have more details on the operational models and the costs associated with running any broadband service.
Task force member discussed various areas that need to be further explored, including:
Costs,
Benefits,
take rates,
operating expenses,
Revenue,
Business cases,
How the city needs this to be cost effective in the future(optional)
Risk Analysis (possible scope creep).
Task force wants recommendation letter to define the problem we are trying to solve and to clearly define our objectives for each are that a Phase II would look at.
Public comment was held.
Meeting adjourned.
Handouts: Combined feedback that task force members emailed city staff prior to the meeting. Handouts available on the Broadband Task Force Website
http://www.cambridgema.gov/broadbandtaskforce
NOTE: The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General determined on August 9, 2016 that the Broadband Task Force is a public body and that the City needs to create minutes for all previous meetings to the best of its ability, through whatever means are available, including the memories and individual notations of the attendees.
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Broadband Task Force -Regular Meeting - DRAFT
June 1, 2016 6:00 P.M.
Ackermann Room, Cambridge City Hall
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Task Force Members: Ben Compaine, Susan Fleischman, Jerrold Grochow, Ming-Tai Huh, James Lesie, Jason Liss, Patrick McCormick, Ed Naef, Anne Schwieger, Jonathan Speiser, Saul Tannenbaum, Nate Thames, Jacob White, Chris Yu
(attendance not recorded – TF will reconcile attendance prior to adopting minutes)
City Staff Present: Kathy Watkins, Lee Gianetti, and Steve Lenkauskas
Meeting Agenda:
• Opening
• Review of Task Force Recommendations
• Next Steps
• Public Comment
Discussion: (It was announced that the meeting would be recorded by a member of the public via audio device)
The Task force discussed the first draft of their proposed letter and recommendation to the City Manager and produced the following draft version.
Action items from this meeting are:
Read and add feedback to the revised google doc by June 6 and
complete the doodle for availability for a meeting on June 8th or June 9th
DRAFT LETTER WORKED ON DURING MEETING
Dear City Manager Richard Rossi,
In October 2014 you appointed us to the Cambridge Broadband Task Force, charged with
developing “options to increase competition,
reduce pricing, and
improve speed, reliability and customer service for both residents and businesses” for broadband service in Cambridge.
Since then, we’ve
met with City staff,
with expert consultants hired by the City,
reviewed case studies of other broadband efforts,
conducted two public outreach meetings, and
conducted a survey of resident opinions.
Some of us have attended industry conferences and local events regarding broadband.
We’ve discussed
a wide range of options,
various public/private partnerships,
business models and alternatives to a city-wide fiber optic broadband network.
As this phase of study comes to a close, some members have concluded that the best way forward is through a city-owned municipal broadband system, believing it to be the only way the City can be sure of meeting its objectives.
Others believe that there are a range of other solutions that could result in achieving a similar end but with less cost and risk to the city.
There are two things, however, in which we are unanimous:
● The recommendation of the consultant, Tilson, to build a small network as a way to provide incentives for some corporate entity to finish it, is not one in which we have any confidence.
● Because the Tilson study was so broad, it wasn’t as detailed as it might otherwise have been.
If the City is to contemplate a capital expenditure of as much as $150,000,000, Tilson’s rough cost estimate for a city-wide broadband system needs more detail and assurances than we, in this process, have been able to provide.
We recommend that the City proceed to a next phase of planning, a Municipal Broadband Feasibility Study.
It is the intention that this phase of planning be highly focused,
produce the best possible plan for municipal broadband in Cambridge and then
rigorously test that plan against economic realities.
In this framework, we would expect to provide you and the City Council an appropriately useful analysis of the costs, benefits and risks of a municipal broadband system so as to allow you to make a fully informed decision.
The Case for Municipal Broadband
Those of us who support municipal broadband take note of the city’s previous efforts to solve these problems.
The City has applied for Google Fiber, and invited telecommunications companies to build a network in Cambridge.
We believe, as do many experts, that the nation is experiencing a widespread market failure in the telecommunications industry.
We agree with President Barack Obama who has called high speed municipal networks “good for business, communities, schools, even the marketplace because they promote efficiency and competition.”
We agree with Federal Communication Commission Chair Tom Wheeler who has said “When commercial providers don’t step up to serve a community’s needs, we should embrace the great American tradition of citizens stepping up to take action collectively.”
The Tilson report documents some of the successful municipal broadband projects.
Tilson has provided a rough cost estimate for building a full broadband network in Cambridge, placing it in the range of a new school, an investment in the community that Cambridge makes routinely, albeit carefully.
Building a fiber optic broadband network is a complex but well understood skill.
If Cambridge were to undertake such a project, it would be selecting from among the same consultants and contractors as would the private sector.
Cambridge’s advantages are two.
Because of its outstanding AAA credit rating, it has access to less expensive financing.
And, when the build was over, Cambridge would own a network as an asset, being able to chart its own destiny.
The Case Against A Municipal Broadband Network
Although a city-funded broadband network might have some attractive attributes, the evidence suggests that it could be a high cost endeavor with substantial financial risks.
Moreover, the need may be overstated.
Thus some members want to keep an open mind on the matter of funding a municipal broadband service.
As part of the Tilson study, a telephone-based scientific survey was conducted of Cambridge households.
It found that 95% of respondents said their households had access to broadband, not including cellular only data plans.
The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, conducted throughout 2014 with a household-based sample five times ours, found that 84% of households have an internet subscription of some kind.
Excluding those households that might not want or need an Internet connection (e.g. those who are willing to limit their access to the workplace or libraries or who pursue an ascetic lifestyle), it would seem that Cambridge households are already well connected, and that if income is the reason for the small number not connected there may be more targeted remedies to help them get connected than a full city funded broadband network.
Excluding those households that might not want or need an Internet connection (e.g. those who are willing to limit their access to the workplace or libraries or who pursue an ascetic lifestyle), it would seem that Cambridge households are already well connected, and that if income is the reason for the small number not connected there may be more targeted remedies to help them get connected than a full city funded broadband network.
The Tilson report included a number of case studies of other municipalities that have built cable or broadband-only networks.
Few, if any, are directly comparable to Cambridge.
There are precious few cases of builds that are financially viable without ongoing subsidies.
Many were built on top of existing municipally-owned electric utilities, which provide some economies of scale and scope.
In most cases the motivation for municipal ownership was to wire homes and businesses that the private carrier had not, which does not apply in Cambridge.
Another common motivation was to create an infrastructure that would attract and retain businesses and institutions and thereby employment.
Cambridge does not seem to have that same need at the moment though future broadband needs and competition from other communities could have an impact.
There is also concern about future technologies. Any broadband system built today would be with fiber as both a backbone and to the premises, promising far greater bandwidth than current services.
However, it is widely reported that wireless service providers are starting to deploy the next generation of data services, usually referred to as 5G.
At the moment, these are small scale test beds, with standards in the process of development.
There is general agreement among technologists and carriers that 5G, with bandwidth capability comparable to fiber, will become widespread in the next four to six years.
Although there are uncertainties about the cost and data limitations that may come along with such service, there is at least some well-founded assessments that it will be competitive with wired broadband providers.
The 5G serviceswould be coming available just about the time that a municipal system would likely be completed.
Finally, there is the dynamic nature of cable and broadband economics.
What would be the response of the existing broadband providers to city-owned competition?
Lowering their prices and improving their product would be a desired outcome, but may also mean fewer takers for the city-owned system.
What are the implications of bundle pricing that a broadband-only network does not offer?
Is Cambridge willing to undertake a full-service broadband network, offering television and telephony in addition to internet services?
These and other questions will need to be addressed by the recommended feasibility study .
Municipal Broadband Feasibility Study: Questions that require answers
Among the questions that the next phase would seek to answer are:
● Building the network
● What will be the true cost of building a full municipal network?
Are there neighborhood by neighborhood variations in the cost profile considered in Tilson’s report?
● Can the construction of a network be phased so that each phase of work have its own value to Cambridge?
● What’s the best plan for funding a network build given Cambridge’s general practices for capital expenditure?
● Operating the network
● What’s an appropriate legal structure for Cambridge to build and operate a broadband network?
● How many Cambridge households and small businesses will sign up as customers?
Will that “take rate” cover both operating and construction costs?
● Is Cambridge willing to offer cable television and voice service bundles in order to acquire a significant number of customers?
If so, how much cost and complexity will that add the effort?
Are there additional reasons/benefits for doing so?
● Should Cambridge seek full cost recovery from a network “business” or is it prepared to use tax revenues to cover some of the costs?
If so, how much of the costs?
● Potential benefits of the network
● Control over pricing and services.
● May make decisions based on social need rather than business needs.
The Broadband Task Force did not include any low-income members,
nor did we do any outreach to low income communities,
the school system, or
Cambridge social service agencies.
Hence, we are are unable to draw conclusions about broadband access in those communities.
Recent academic work shows that many access programs are not successful, as they fail to solve the real problems experienced by low income families.
Low cost or subsidized access is far less meaningful, for example, if the company providing it requires a credit check, or enforces a requirement that the family not have been a recent full-cost customer.
The next phase of planning must directly address digital equity and inclusiveness issues, seeking the expert advice of low income residents themselves, as well as that of the schools and human service agencies.
Cambridge, with its wealth of resources, can, and should, provide a model for how cities should deal with digital inclusiveness.
The Broadband Task Force, as well, did very little outreach to the entrepreneurial and innovation sectors of the Cambridge economy, nor did it fully engage its universities.
It’s no secret that cities building fiber optic networks are doing this in advance of any real application for networking of that speed and capacity, but how could it be any different?
Who is going to build those applications and services until there are enough customers for there to be a valid business case?
But Cambridge is different from most cities.
We have institutions - Harvard and MIT - for whom internal high speed networks are a given and who seek the highest speed connections to other institutions.
We have a burgeoning biomedical industry which, as well, needs to move vast amounts of data for its business purposes.
And we have a legion of entrepreneurs eager to find business opportunities.
What happens when there is community-wide affordable high-speed connectivity with these sorts of catalysts?
The Task Force should do outreach to these communities and spark that conversation.
Digital Inclusion and bridging the digital divide
○ How can Cambridge design and implement a digital inclusion strategy that provides true access to internet resources, regardless of the ability to pay?
○ Can those efforts be frontloaded into a plan so that it addresses equity issues first?
Summary of the challenges and the opportunities
● Control over pricing, access and offerings vs. risk to city credit rating and operating budget.
Goals and objectives
Decision makers will need to know how a full municipal broadband build-out might enable the city of Cambridge meet its goals for broadband, as laid out in Phase I.
Phase II should seek to provide this information by answering the following questions.
Affordability and Equity
Based on Phase I findings on the state of broadband Internet access in Cambridge, how much would a full municipal broadband build-out:
1. Improve access to affordable broadband for residents and small businesses (with the term “affordable rates” defined for 100Mbs and 1Gbs service)
2. Reduce the number of areas in Cambridge without access to broadband Internet, in terms of potential new businesses or residents served?
Choice & Competition
● Based on Phase I findings on the number of broadband providers in Cambridge, what is the likely impact on broadband pricing business and residential customers with municipal broadband as the new competitor?
Supporting Entrepreneurs & Small Businesses
1. Based on Phase I findings on broadband availability and pricing in Cambridge:
2. What would be the level of improvement to access to >100Mbs broadband for entrepreneurs and small businesses?
3. What new opportunities might be afforded to entrepreneurs and small business by improved access to >100Mbs broadband?
Innovation & Excellence
● How might municipal broadband support improved innovation and excellence in broadband service, as determined in Appendix G: Outreach Session #1 Issues and Recommendations?
Local Control
● Based on the experience of communities currently running municipal broadband networks, what have been the observed benefits of local control?
Outline the process that took place (?)
Items learned· About two-thirds of households surveyed felt that their Internet service was of average or better value.
· Only 5% of city residents—based on the survey—are frequent users of public Wi-Fi. Another 16% use it “occasionally.”
· More residents considered “reliability” of greater importance than the cost or the speed of the service.
· Slightly more than half the respondents would be very or somewhat willing to pay more for faster service.
· According to outreach efforts, business and institutional users in Cambridge generally have the service they need directly from third party vendors.
There is no evidence that they are leaving Cambridge or not locating in Cambridge due to data service issues.
· Dozens of municipalities have implemented their own broadband service, often including cable TV.
There are many permutations of ownership and control, ranging from totally municipally owned and operated to ownership of the underlying backbone with private ownership and control of actual premises connections and the provision of services.
· Motivation for municipally financed systems include the need to wire areas that private providers have neglected to bring service into, to create better services in order to attract business to the area, to offer services at lower prices than existing providers.
· In the overwhelming number of cases where the local government has been successful in creating a municipally owned broadband entity, the municipality had already owned the electric utility, which provided ready access to conduit as well as operating experience and efficiencies in financing, billing and account management for the add-on broadband service.
What is missing (what do we need)
What is the goal of Phase II
What areas need to be addressed in phase II (what do we call phase II)
What gaps need to be filled
Business models
Dynamic tool for evaluating the economic models
Structure
Revenue model
Operating costs
Could an option have phases that would have value at each phase
Additional Legal work
Among the questions that the next phase need to answer are:
● Building the network
● What will the true cost of building a full municipal network be? Are there neighborhood by neighborhood variations in the cost profile?
● Can the construction of a network be phased so that each phase of work have its own value to Cambridge?
● What’s the best plan for funding a network build given Cambridge’s general practices for capital expenditure?
● Operating the network
● What’s an appropriate legal structure for Cambridge to build and operate a broadband network?
● How many Cambridge households and small businesses will sign up as customers? Will that “take rate” cover both operating and construction costs?
● Will Cambridge have to offer cable television and voice service bundles in order to acquire a significant number of customers? If so, how much cost and complexity will that add the effort?
● Should Cambridge seek full cost recovery from a network “business” or is it prepared to use tax revenues to cover some of the costs? If so, how much of the costs?
● Benefits of the network
○ Addressing the goals and objectives identified in Phase I
○ Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of city services
○ Supporting key strategic goals of the City
● Digital Inclusion and bridging the digital divide
○ How can Cambridge design and implement a digital inclusion strategy that provides true access to internet resources regardless of the ability to pay?
○ Can those efforts be frontloaded into a plan so that it addresses equity issues first?
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Public comment was held.
Meeting adjourned.
NOTE: The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General determined on August 9, 2016 that the Broadband Task Force is a public body and that the City needs to create minutes for all previous meetings to the best of its ability, through whatever means are available, including the memories and individual notations of the attendees.
____________________
Broadband Task Force -Regular Meeting - DRAFT
June 9, 2016 6:00 P.M.
Citywide Senior Center,2nd floor room 208
Massachusetts Avenue
Task Force Members: Ben Compaine, Susan Fleischman, Jerrold Grochow (on Phone), Ming-Tai Huh, James Lesie, Jason Liss, Patrick McCormick, Ed Naef, Anne Schwieger, Jonathan Speiser, Saul Tannenbaum, Nate Thames, Jacob White, Chris Yu
(attendance not recorded – TF will reconcile attendance prior to adopting minutes)
City Staff Present: Kathy Watkins, Lee Gianetti, and Steve Lenkauskas
Meeting Agenda:
• Continued review of the draft recommendations/report to the City Manager
• Next steps
• Public comment
Discussion: (It was announced that the meeting would be recorded by a member of the public via audio device)
The Task force continued discussing the draft of their proposed letter and recommendation to the City Manager and produced the following version.
The task force discussed with staff that their letter and recommendation will serve as a guide for the city manager and their recommendation is that the city manager seeks funding for a phase II study that addresses the concerns and proposed study in the letter.
An email will go to all task force members after the meeting seeking any additional changes and for approval of the draft (after the city has copy editing done to the document).
If need we have a meeting, one is booked for Jun 14.
[ Draft Letter available by email at https://www.cambridgema.gov/CityManager/~/link.aspx?_id=E299BC1904464CD4B0387F87D0951763 ]
[ see also Documents at https://www.cambridgema.gov/CityManager/broadbandtaskforce ]
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Public comment was held.
Meeting adjourned.
NOTE: The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General determined on August 9, 2016 that the Broadband Task Force is a public body and that the City needs to create minutes for all previous meetings to the best of its ability, through whatever means are available, including the memories and individual notations of the attendees.
____________________
Broadband Task Force -Regular Meeting - DRAFT
August 9, 2016 6:00 P.M.
Ackermann Room, City Hall
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Task Force Members: Ben Compaine, Susan Fleischman, Jerrold Grochow, Ming-Tai Huh, James Lesie, Jason Liss, Patrick McCormick, Ed Naef, Anne Schwieger, Jonathan Speiser, Saul Tannenbaum, Nate Thames, Jacob White, Chris Yu (attendance not recorded – TF will reconcile attendance prior to adopting minutes)
City Staff Present: Kathy Watkins, Lee Gianetti, Mary Hart and Steve Lenkauskas
Meeting Agenda:
Finalize Task Force Letter and report
Discussion: (It was announced that the meeting would be recorded by a member of the public via audio
device)
The Task force reviewed the copy edited version of their recommendation letter and the new version of the Tilson report. Copy edited letter and a redline version of Tilson report are below. The task force decided that:
• Tilson will add back in the sentence in the beginning of the report that says: “The analysis and recommendations contained herein are Tilson’s, not those of the Task Force.”
• If task force members have any sentences that absolutely need to be added or deleted from the revised Tilson report, they will let city staff know asap.
Other the report is good to go. (note; some members feel the report could use more editing, but want to keep the process moving)
• 2 footnotes need updating and we need to confirm that the 2 table numbers are correct in the revised report.
• Once members agree that the letter is done, they can notify staff they approve and sign the letter.
Once the letter and report are completed will be transmitted to the Manager on Wednesday at close of business.
• Members will hold August 23 from 6pm-7pm for meeting with the City Manager. Time and Location TBD.
Meeting adjourned.
[ Draft Letter and Draft Study available by email at https://www.cambridgema.gov/CityManager/~/link.aspx?_id=E299BC1904464CD4B0387F87D0951763 ]
[ see also Documents at https://www.cambridgema.gov/CityManager/broadbandtaskforce ]
NOTE: The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General determined on August 9, 2016 that the Broadband Task Force is a public body and that the City needs to create minutes for all previous meetings to the best of its ability, through whatever means are available, including the memories and individual notations of the attendees.
____________________
Broadband Task Force -Regular Meeting
October 13, 2016
Ackermann Room, Cambridge City Hall
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Quorum of the Task Force Present at 6:43 pm
Members Present: Ben Compaine, Jerold Grochow, Ming-Tai Huh, Jason Liss, Ed Naef, Anne Schwieger, Saul Tannenbaum
City Staff Present: Kathy Watkins, Lee Gianetti, Mary Hart, and Steve Lenkauskas
Meeting Agenda:
• Opening/announcements
• Prepare presentation for October 18 meeting with the Neighborhood & Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts & Celebration Committee
• Adjournment
Discussion: (It was announced that the meeting would be recorded by a member of the public via audio device)
City Staff explained this meeting was a working session for the Task Force to prepare its presentation for the upcoming hearing with the City Council’s Neighborhood & Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts & Celebration Committee on October 18, 2016.
Staff reviewed with the Task Force the agenda for the meeting on October 18, and that the Task Force would have approximately 45 minutes on the agenda for presentations and questions.
Lee Gianetti will present 10-15 on the Broadband Task Forces process and the recommendation of Tilson; the Task Force will present their recommendations.
The Task Force decided that Ming-Tai Huh will speak on behalf of the Task Force for the formal presentation and each member can participate freely in the discussion part of the meeting.
Discussion ensued on what information the Task Force wanted to include in their presentation and they settled on the following outline:
• Brief summary of the task forces recommendation letter to the City Manager
• Describe the 5 goals of the task force
• Describe why the task force narrowed the choice to wanting to study a phase II to study the feasibility of the full build option.
• Explain phase II will to take a deep dive on a full build option to gain information not examined in phase I
• List the key questions the task force wants a phase II to answer in Phase 2
Ming will work on putting together the PowerPoint for the Task Force’s presentation and will work with Lee Gianetti prior to the October 18th meeting to finalize the presentation.
Meeting adjourned at 7:23 pm.
Handouts: Final Task Force Recommendations to City Manager and Tilson Report were available for reference
