HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoogle Fiber ChecklistGoogle Fiber
Checklist
Google fi ber
Introduction
Over the last few years, gigabit Internet has moved from idea to reality, with dozens of communities
working hard to build networks with speeds capable of supporting the future of the Internet. People are
hungrier than ever for faster Internet, and as a result, cities across America are making speed a priority.
This checklist is written specifcally for the cities we're currently working with. However, the items in the
checklist are a collection of best practices recommended by the Fiber to the Home Council, the Gig.0
report and the US Conference of Mayors and are a clear path to anyone interested in building a new
fber network.
Building a fber network is a big job, so advance planning goes a long way toward helping us minimize
disruption for residents and build in an effcient manner. We will need to work closely with you to
determine whether Fiber will be a ft for your city, and we're committed to starting our own research and
engineering early in the process. We'd like the project to move as quickly and smoothly as possible.
We will also spend time talking with you during this process about how city leaders can get residents ready
for Google Fiber, particularly those who don't currently use the Internet or have it at home. We will share
how Fiber's work to make the web more affordable, more relevant, and more useful can be a powerful
catalyst in closing the digital divide —and how important it is that we do this work together, in partnership.
We are excited about the possibility of bringing Google Fiber to your city and look forward to working
with you.
Checklist Instructions
Goo*Ie fi be r
Instructions
The following instructions provide guidance and additional information to help you complete the
information requested in the Checklist.
From our experience working in our existing cities, we are confdent the Fiber Checklist will speed up
the process and can help bring high speed Internet to your city in an effcient manner.
Provide information about existing infrastructure
Building a new network is complex, and we would like to work with your city to make it quicker, more
effcient, and less disruptive to your community. We're asking your city to provide accurate information
about local infrastructure like municipal owned utility poles, conduit and existing water, gas and
electricity lines so we know where to effciently place every foot of fber. As we work through our
detailed network design, infrastructure data helps us understand where we can safely and effectively
place the fber.
As part of completing the Checklist, we ask that your city:
Review the "Data Request" portion
of the Checklist, and gather and
submit all required data asset
requests as outlined in
the Checklist.
Identify which infrastructure and/
or data about that infrastructure is
not owned, operated or controlled
by the city.
Do not worry if you don't have the data we're looking for! Just indicate it in the Checklist and help us
fgure out how to obtain the information.
Checklist Instructions
Make it easy for providers to share existing infrastructure
Fiber providers need to string fiber along
utility poles or bury it underground in protective
tubing called "conduit." It doesn't make sense
for each provider to install redundant poles, or
to dig up streets multiple times where conduit
already exists.
Allowing providers to re -use existing
infrastructure makes the process of building
a network faster, more efficient, more cost
effective and significantly less disruptive.
The Fiber team laying conduit in Atlanta, GA
Providers of broadband Internet services,
including IPTV, should have access to existing
utility poles, ducts and conduit, on nondiscriminatory terms, in exchange for reasonable payment.
These rights may already be addressed by federal or state law, local ordinances, or other agreements
with infrastructure owners. But if we cannot otherwise secure these rights, we may need your help to
obtain these rights locally.
As part of completing the Checklist, we ask that your city provide:
A description of any existing state laws, local ordinances, and/or commercial
agreements that satisfy these types of attachment and use rights. Please include
these on the "Access to Infrastructure" portion of the Checklist. Work with us, as
needed, to ensure that Google and other service providers have access to
these rights.
3 I Checklist Instructions
Goo*Ie fi be r
Help make construction speedy & predictable
Permitting and Construction
We're asking your city to make sure you have efficient and predictable permit and construction
processes appropriate for a project as large as a Google Fiber network build. The items we outline
in this section will help ensure that the construction process is predictable, fast, and as minimally
disruptive for your city as possible.
As part of completing the Checklist, we ask that your city:
Review and complete the Permitting/
Construction Process portion of
the Checklist; if your city cannot
accommodate a particular standard
or process that we've listed, please let
us know the best you can do.
Review the Construction Constraints
portion of the Checklist, and
identify any local, city or state-wide
requirements that may impact the
pace of a network build.
Fiber network huts
Another important part of network design is determining where to place Google Fiber network huts.
These network huts house Fiber's electronic equipment and serve as key distribution points between
the backbone of our network and customers' homes.
Fiber Ring
We encircle each city with a
ring of fiber cables, so that it's
easy to branch service off into
any neighborhood.
Internet Backbone
Routes of fiber-optic cable
that connect networks and
cities together, making the
Internet possible.
Aggregation Site
The location where we connect
our local Google Fiber network
into the Internet backbone and
the world wide web. Also known
as a point of presence.
Distribution Fiber-
■ ■
®a
Access Fiber
Fiber Hut
Fiber huts, located along our fiber
ring, act as the main switchboards
along our network. Inside the huts,
we connect fiber cables to devices
that receive and transmit signals
between your computer and the
Internet. Fiber leaves the huts in
bundles of cable, called
"distribution fiber."
1111111111111e
***
Network Interface
Unit (NIU)
Fiber Distribution
Hub (FDH)
FDHs are enclosures where we separate
large bundles of distribution fiber into
smaller, neighborhood -sized bundles of
"access fiber." FDHs are placed underground,
usually next to roads and along the
rights -of -way.
Fiber -to -the -Home
Access fiber runs through
neighborhoods either
underground or aerially,
attached to utility poles.
When a resident requests
service, we pull fiber from
the AF bundle to the
"Network Interface Unit"
on the outside of the house.
Then, installers bring the
cables directly into our
customers' home —
connecting them to
Google Fiber.
Checklist Instructions 14
City -owned sites generally make sense as hut locations because they are zoned appropriately and
dispersed throughout the city. We've provided a Hut Specifcations document, with detailed specifcations
and drawings. We've also provided a Hut License Agreement, which details the terms and conditions
upon which we are able to lease these sites.
We ask that your city:
Review the Hut Specifcations
document and the Hut License
Agreement.
Confrm which city -owned properties
meet the requirements and can either
be made available for purchase or
for lease under the terms of the Hut
License Agreement.
By the Checklist deadline, we also ask that your city identify all approvals (committees, city council, etc)
necessary for the Hut License Agreement, and confrm the process and timeline for such approval,
including any public notice periods.
Checklist Instructions
Goo*Ie fi be r
Project Management
and Timeline
We would like your city to assign a project point of contact —someone who can make decisions for
the city. We've found that it usually helps to have the City Manager, Deputy City Manager, CTO or CIO
serve in this capacity. This process works best when cities assign POCs for each department as well.
We've learned that it's very helpful to have check -in calls to discuss progress on the checklist. We'II also
use this time to answer questions. So, if you're unsure of how to respond to something in the checklist
—don't worry, just let us know and we'll talk about it in our check -in calls.
Project Timeline
Week 1
Cities meet with Google to review the checklist in detail.
Week 2-5
Cities review and respond to tasks and requirements on the checklist.
Google and cities will hold regular calls to discuss progress and questions.
Week 6
Deadline for cities to complete items on the checklist.
Google evaluates completion of the items on the checklist and completes a detailed engineering
study. This process will take time. We will be in touch with any follow-up questions and will provide
updates when we have information to share.
Checklist Instructions 1
Overview of Google
Fiber Huts
An important piece of the Google Fiber network architecture is the "hut", which is a shelter for
communications equipment. These huts are placed throughout cities to facilitate service to customers.
City -owned sites generally make sense as hut locations because they are zoned appropriately and
dispersed throughout the city. We would like to complete a Hut License Agreement with you, so we
can place these huts on city land.
Below are some key considerations for where and how these huts are placed in cities, as well as
technical information about the huts that you may fnd helpful.
Hut Specifcations
Huts are pre -fabricated structures that measure about 11' 9" Wx 29' 6" L x 9' H.
The measurement of the entire leased site itself can vary, but is generally about 32ft x 50ft.
We fnd that parcels measuring at least 2000 sq ft generally work well.
Each hut sits on a concrete slab.
o The hut has a standard aggregate f nish (also known as a "washed stone" fnish).
• Huts are typically surrounded by a 10ft fence.
Each hut runs on electricity, but has a backup generator on -site that also sits on the concrete
slab and runs on natural gas. Generators are tested monthly, but otherwise only run in power
outage situations. The noise level with the backup generator running is roughly 76dB avg @23ft.
Huts have HVAC units attached, with noise levels of about 65dB at 20ft (about as loud as a mid-
size pickup truck idling).
Each hut serves a maximum of 40,000 households.
We require 24-hour access to the huts, 365 days a year.
7 I Fiber Hut Specifcations
Goo*Ie fi be r
Hut Site Selection Considerations
o The hut site requires vehicular access for construction and maintenance. As such, the site should
have access to a road and include parking space.
The huts require electric power, natural gas for a backup generator, and a telephone line
for security. As such, the hut needs to be located within reasonable proximity to natural gas,
telephone, and electric service access points (120/240V Delta single phase 400A service).
o Huts need to be distributed throughout the city and in proximity to residential areas they serve
(i.e. they cannot all be concentrated in one corner or industrial area of the city).
O We prefer to avoid placing huts on the following types of sites:
• Land that requires phase 2 environmental • Sites with gated access or security
testing (e.g. landflls) requirements
• Schools
• Parks
• Sites with setback concerns
• Sites near a flood zone
o What works well:
• Land that is far from the right of way, or does
not have an existing easement through the
site that can be accessed by a utility
• Historical areas
• Subleased or federal property
• Fire stations • Vacant parcels
• Police stations • Sites with similar structures (cell towers)
• Substations • Pump stations
In the event that a particular site requires special considerations (e.g. for safety or aesthetic
reasons), we will work with your city to determine specifc conditions applicable to those
particular hut sites, and include them in the Hut License Agreement.
Fiber Hut Specifcations
Hut Schematic Drawing
Number and size
of conduits will
vary by design
Extra Large
Vault placed
on RoW
_JL
L_
Number and size
of conduits will
vary by design
3' Man -ate
I
LF L
_J
11
arker
Ball
(4]-4"
Conduits
36"x76"x42"
Vault
Conduit entering
through floor
(4)- 4" Conduits
39x7tt`x4r
Vault
Servi
Disconnect
Switch
# 4/0 Ground wire up
through conduit for
connection to MGB
3r
Apprnhc 11'x28"
8' Chain Link Fence
with 1' Barbed wire.
Concrete Slab
on Grade
Grounding ring required
at least 3 feet from
building. Fence must be
bendad to ring as well.
50'
Galvanized Conduit
turns upward at wall
and enters through
pullboa.
8' Double Swing
Access Gate
I (lj-4" PVC Conduit &
] ! (1)-1" Conduit
(1) - 3/4" Conduit
'-6" x10' concrete slab
3" above grade for
generator.
Natural ps line for generator, size
per local code and generator size
Fiber Hut Specifcations
Goo*Ie fi be r
Hut Site Examples
Fiber Hut Specifcations I :�:�
Fiber Checklist
Data Request
Materials Required to Design and Construct the Fiber Network
❑ Right of Way and Easements
❑ Parcels or Lot Lines (easements and rights of way)
❑ Poles (location, use code, and operating entity)
❑ Existing Underground Utility Routes
❑ Manholes
❑ Pavement Condition Index Score by Street
❑ Existing Spare Conduit Available for Lease
❑ Existing Dark Fiber Available for Lease
❑ Infrastructure Maintenance Plan (street maintenance locations with extents and schedule)
❑ Proposed Hut Site Locations by Address
Optional Materials that will Expedite our Engineering Processes
❑ Addresses
❑ Streets
❑ Parcels or Lot Lines (physical address and parcel type)
❑ Poles (state, install date, date of last inspection, etc.)
❑ Streetlights
❑ Overhead Strand
❑ Zoning
❑ Building Footprint
❑ Infrastructure Maintenance Plan (pole maintenance areas and schedule)
Fiber Checklist
Goo*Ie fi be r
Access to Infrastructure
We're asking your city to help ensure that we, and other providers, can access and lease existing
infrastructure. It doesn't make sense for each provider to install redundant poles, or to dig up
streets multiple times where conduit already exists.
❑ Description of any existing state laws, local ordinances, and commercial agreements that
satisfy the attachment and use rights described above.
❑ Confrmation that your city would support expedited network builds by requiring "one touch"
relocations of equipment on utility poles in the public right of way.
Permitting and Construction Process
Permitting Process
❑ A standard form of permit application document that Google Fiber will be expected to use
❑ City's standard Conditions of Permit Approval.
Construction Process
❑ Utility System Construction Standards
❑ Line -Clearing and Tree -Trimming Service
❑ Arborist requirement for working around trees
❑ Fire Safety Building Code Specifcations (including for multiple dwelling unit designs)
❑ Utilities Building Code Specifcations (including for multiple dwelling unit designs)
Noti f cation Process
❑ City to provide a point of contact to facilitate Google Fiber 311 communication plan
❑ City to provide a point of contact to address resident issues due to utility -related work
(e.g. Removal of locates lines/markers)
Fiber Checklist I i_
Construction Constraints
Google requests help complying with City, County, and State laws and standards. Please review
the items below, and note any applicable laws and departments to consult. It will be especially
helpful for the City to provide specifc examples and documentation of past projects that have
met/exceeded standards in these areas, as well as any clarifcation about how/why these
standards apply to the project.
❑ Trees (e.g. trimming restrictions, special conditions to be aware of)
❑ Historic Districts
❑ Work Hours (including construction/restoration restrictions on weekends)
❑ Special Zones (e.g. kids, seniors)
❑ Environmentally Sensitive Areas (e.g. areLfacilities required to recapture water run-off)
❑ Landscaping Requirements
❑ Holiday Moratoriums
❑ Joint work/Dig once requirements
❑ Noise Restraints or Restrictions
❑ Other Advisory Committees
13 I Fiber Checklist
Goo*Ie fi be r
Additional Resources
We will be providing FAQs and supplementary documentation about our checklist and construction
processes shortly. In addition, you may fnd the following resources helpful.
Google Fiber: Network Overview
This Google Fiber blog post gives a behind -the -scenes look at how we actually build Google Fiber
including a basic network overview.
http://googlef berblog.blogspot.com/2013/10/behi nd-scenes-with-google- f ber-how-we.html
Google Fiber Website: City Expansion FAQs
Our website includes a set of FAQs about this checklist and process.
https:// f ber.google.com/support/
Digital Inclusion: A Long -Term Investment
This Google Fiber blog post provides an overview of our long term investments and perspectives on
digital inclusion.
http://googlef berblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/digital-inclusion-long-term-investment.html
Digital Inclusion Leadership Awards
We've partnered with Next Century Cities and the National League of Cities to create the Digital
Inclusion Leadership Awards. Their website includes background about the digital divide and ways
some city governments are addressing it.
http://nextcenturycities.org/digital-inclusion-awards/
Additional Resources 1