October 8, 2008 Private/Public Partnerships and Fiber Mary Jan Hedman Executive Director, St. Joe Valley Metronet October 8, 2008
Why form private/public partnerships? Private sector alone has not provided: – adequate broadband services for the needs of the business, government or academic communities In some cases, it is the only connection option – cost-effective broadband services The connectivity cost impacted organizations’ competitiveness Public sector alone does not want to be in the communications business
October 8, 2008 Broadband Users Local Access Loop (last mile connection) Access Points Network Service Providers If left to develop under past market conditions, access to broadband in St. Joseph County would have likely continued to be served by a single source under its cost and regulatory environment. Past Market Conditions
October 8, 2008 Criteria 7 local, private organizations agreed to fund network construction, provided the network is: – built underground – enclosed in conduit – designed with redundant loops – monitored & repaired 24/7 for continuous signal
October 8, 2008 Partnership City of South Bend Required connectivity Has conduit infrastructure SJVM Required conduit infrastructure to build fiber network Reciprocal Agreement SJVM uses City’s conduit City has access to Metronet fiber City of Mishawaka St. Joseph County St. Joseph County Airport Authority
October 8, 2008 Broadband Users Local Access Loop (last mile connection) Access Points Network Service Providers Past & Current Market Conditions The St. Joe Valley Metronet allows an organization to gain direct access to the service provider of its choice without forcing the service provider to build an independent fiber connection.
October 8, 2008 SJVM Meets This Community’s Needs Flexibility Reliability Capacity Cost Effective
October 8, 2008 Current & Future Metronet Fiber Future ?
October 8, 2008 The Mission To promote technology-based economic development by providing a state-of-the-art infrastructure at cost-effective prices.