Staff Report - Study Session on Wireless Silicon Valley~pW N 0
s COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
OS GASP
DATE: JUNE 14, 2006
MEETING DATE: 06-19-06
STUDY SESSION
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: DEBRA J. FIGONE, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: STUDY SESSION ON WIRELESS SILICON VALLEY
RECOMMENDATION:
Discuss and provide comments on presentation by Seth Fearey, Vice President and Chief
Operating Office of Joint Venture, the primary sponsor of the Wireless Silicon Valley
project.
BACKGROUND:
The purpose of this study session is to provide the Town Council with an overview of
the Wireless Silicon Valley project, along with an opportunity to comment and ask
questions.
The Town of Los Gatos is one of more than 35 participants in an initiative launched by
Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network to encourage the development of a regional
broadband wireless network. The Wireless Silicon Valley project is seeking proposals
from vendors and network providers to establish and operate a network that will enable
broadband wireless Internet access for residents, businesses, government agencies and
outdoor venues within Silicon Valley (including cities in Santa Clara, San Mateo, and
portions of Alameda and Santa Cruz counties).
DISCUSSION:
Attached is a copy of the presentation to be provided by Seth Fearey, Project Manager of
the Wireless Silicon Valley project. In general, the presentation will cover:
■ why communities have joined together to seek a regional approach to the
provision of wireless services;
■ the benefits of collaborating in this effort;
PREPARED BY: PAMELA S. JACOBS ix
ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER
NAMGR\PJaeobs\Speeial Projects\Wireless Silicon Valle council rcport.doc
Reviewed by: Assistant Town Manager Town Attorney
Clerk Administrator Finance Community Development
PAGE 2
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: STUDY SESSION ON WIRELESS SILICON VALLEY
JUNE 14, 2006
■ how the wireless network can be used by residents, businesses, and public
agencies;
■ information about the Request for Proposals (RFP); and
■ the challenges of the regional wireless model.
CONCLUSION:
The Study Session will provide Council with a fuller understanding of the process for and
the benefits and challenges of the Wireless Silicon Valley project.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
Is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the Study Session on the Wireless Silicon
Valley project.
Attachments:
1. PowerPoint presentation on Wireless Silicon Valley Project
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Los Gatos Town Council
Study Session:
Wireless Silicon Valley
Seth G. Fearey, VP & COO
Smart Valley Initiative Director
Joint Venture: Silicon Valley
Network
June 19, 2006
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Wireless
in Silicon Valley Today
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The Bay Area
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is #1 or #2 in
-
number of
Hotspots in
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the U.S.
Source: Wireless
Geographic Logging
Engine (wiale.net)
Wireless in Silicon Valley Today
• Los Gatos was the first city in Santa Clara
County to offer free wireless in the Town
Plaza
• MetroFi is covering Cupertino, Sunnyvale,
Santa Clara with free and paid services
• Google is building a free network in
Mountain View
• Earthlink is extending the Milpitas Police
network and opening it to the public
• We all have a history with Metricom
• But...
2
We are not as well connected as we
should be.
Percent of Households Using a Broadband Connection
45.0%
40.0%
35.0%
30.0%
25.0%
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0 0°/
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San Diego Austin Boston Seattle Bay Area us
Source: 200 Index of Silicon Valley
The Wireless Silicon Valley Vision
• Cover all 1,500 square miles outdoors with high-
speed, wireless, data network
• Offer seamless interoperability and mobility
• Attract a private sector owner-operator
• Serve public agencies, including libraries, police,
fire, community centers, utilities, parking meters,
public transportation
• Fill in broadband coverage gaps, underserved
areas
• Provide visitors, local businesses with easy access
• Provide residents with an alternative provider
• Provide vendors with multiple revenue streams
4
One network fits all
• Police
• Fire
• Hospitals
• Utilities
• Construction
• Visitors
• Service businesses
• The Arts
• Residents
Laptop
• Phone
• Electrical, gas
meter
• Water meter,
irrigation controller
• Parking meter
• Signage
• Credit card reader
Outdoors, or in a train, bus, car, truck, ambulance,
5
Example Applications
• Building inspections using handheld devices.
• Connectivity for events, e.g. signage, credit card
readers, coordination
• Location sensing - computer aided dispatch for
police, fire
• Webcams for security
• Construction site coordination
• Update GIS, workorder databases from the field
• Access to police databases and provide ability to
file reports remotely
• Remote control of irrigation systems
• Automated meter reading
• Wireless parking meters - time of day pricing,
open space sensing, credit card payment
Some of the Benefits
• Convenience
- Always available, no matter where you are
• Cost Savings
- No need for wireline to install a sensor, camera
• Control
- Remote control of signs, equipment; location
sensing for tracking
• Timeliness
- Faster response to information from the field
6
Risks
• High cost of deployment
• Sustainability of the business model
• Technology changes
• Coverage
• Interference
• Complexity
• Network overload
Process to Date
4
• Economic Development Managers
• Chief Information Officers/Information Technology
Managers
• Co-chairs - Brian Moura (city), Dan Fenton (visitors)
• Monthly meetings
• Surveys
• Vision
• Fund raising - avg. $2,500 per city
• Consultant - Intel Solution Services
• "Business Model" (tiers of service)
• 40 members in Santa Clara, San Mateo and Alameda
Counties and the city of Santa Cruz
• Released Request for Proposal on April 28th
7
Next Steps
• Outreach programs, study sessions for
elected officials
• Form a review committee
• Develop a governance model
• Short list - end of July
• Selection - early September
• Negotiate of model agreement
• Make recommendation to cities and
counties - October
Governance
• Model: San Mateo County Telecommunications
Alliance JPA SAMCAT
• Potential Roles ~ _a....~
- Negotiate model agreement
- Recommend vendor(s) to cities and counties
- Oversee deployment and operation
- Champion the project, promote usage, applications
- Forum for best practice sharing
- Assist with priorities
- Arbitrate issues, e.g. interference
- Provide overall vision and strategy
9
e The Role of Town and City Councils
• Encourage awareness of the program
• Encourage city staff and businesses to look
for ways to use the new infrastructure to
enhance services and cut costs
• Review the model agreement
• Address community concerns, e.g., health
worries, aesthetics.
9
Outdoor WiFi Access Points
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By working together
• We create a large market that can attract large
players
• The network can be seamless as we move around
the region
• We can share lessons learned as we deploy new
applications
• We have buying power for applications software
and equipment
• Each city doesn't have to re-invent the wheel
when developing policies and negotiating
agreements
10
Lessons from the City of Mountain
View- p.1
• Set expectations early and often
• Need a city coordinator for permitting,
legal, council meetings, advisor...
• Need a hot line for resident/business
questions long before the system turns on
• Organize community training sessions
• Install, test, re-install, optimize
• Expect interference - work it out
• Expect higher AP density - at least 30/mi2
11
Lessons from Mountain View - p.2
• Not enough mounting assets; office
buildings are expensive
• Street lights come in many configurations
and some of them won't work
• Ask residents for access to their roofs
• Trees grow, poles break, so document
locations thoroughly and manage the
inventory
Lessons from Mountain View - p.3
• Test and approve signal boosters (CPE)
(200 mw good, 50 mw doesn't work)
• Get retail stores on board and passing out
information on connecting at home
• Citizen concerns are security and health.
Appearance less so. Privacy an issue in
San Francisco.
12