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Next Generation Netwoi-k PlaD <br />Page I <br />1. Executive Summary <br />.Co <br />1.1 The Network Planning Project: Purpose and Scope <br />The North Suburban Communications Coramission (NSCC) has embarked on a <br />pioneering program to further facilitate provision of state-of-the-art communications <br />services to its member cities. Ten northern St. Paul suburban cities in Ramsey County <br />make up the NSCC.' The North Suburban Access Corporation (NSAC), which is a <br />subsidiary of the NSCC, oversees the maintenance and operation of' ffi& public acceiss <br />studio, produces public access content, and provides, oversight of the cable television <br />franchise agreement. Currently, NSCC cities receive connectivity services through the <br />Institutional Network- (I-Net) obtained as part of the cable television franchise agreement <br />with Comcast. <br />Existing fiber constructed by Comcast interconnects 28 sites occupied by the NS'CC cities <br />Z:�� <br />and other institutions. Comeast constructed and maintains this fiber per the franchise <br />agreement. NSCC indicates that there is no opportunity wiffi n the franchise 'M <br />C ise agree, en�t to <br />'t Pr <br />r-yr rywrr-l-lased beliov�-marko:;,- 1�0­1"&. <br />r ea, u;, r e t 11 is ; a_L t addit, ;, o DA a I I " 0./1 c o n s t r u c"UE111d wx purchased k.,LA "L %_ J IL 11 <br />Furthermore, previous requests to Comeast to purchase, additional fiber have been denied. <br />NSCC member cities envision expanding the role, of theh- existing I-Net because <br />communications needs are arowing exponcntially, and a Next Generation Network <br />(NGN) will be essential to enable deployment of e-merging applications by and among the <br />numerous public entities in the NSCC region. The existing I-Net is unlikely to meet these <br />needs itself. Comcast has declined to assist with expansion of the I-Niet, and ongoing <br />regulatory uncertainty could put the existing I-Net at risk when the, existing franchise <br />tn Y <br />ag-reement expires in 2013. Just as significantly, the existing I-Net includes substantial <br />amounts of coaxial cable (primarily to schools) that, though state-of-the-art at the tirne it <br />was built, now risks technical obsolescence and is unlikely to be able to meet growing <br />capacity needs. In addition, use of the I-Net for economic development and other <br />activities involving private organizations is constrained -due, to conditional , use <br />restrictions. <br />An NGN can expand the current fiber I- Net's reach to include such entities as the public <br />schools and Ramsey COUDty. It can also expand its capability and future s�ca,lability. <br />Each of the NSCC jurisdictions depends on the existing I-Net for support of day-to-day <br />communications operations. The communications needs of these and other jurisdictions <br />continue to increase, both with respect to number of locations requiring service, and the <br />bandwidth capacity of the connections., <br />Collaboration amongst the ten NSCC cities, was a critical factor in obtaining the I- <br />I <br />Net from Comeast. If individual cities had attempted to negotiate on their own, <br />1 The ten NSCC cities iDclude; Arden Hills, Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Little Canada, Mounds View, <br />New Bricy g hton $ NorNora Oaks, St. Anthony Village, Roseville and Shoreview . <br />all text and diagr�a,rns @1 CTC ' 2007 <br />