[Davisgig] Today's Meeting with Fujitsu Network Communications

[rob]

Hi Davisites

Very good meeting today on the effort.  Well represented by City staff, 
Mayor Pro Tem, UC1D CR Operations, and DavisGIG advocates.

This was a sales pitch buy a very large and accomplished vendor in the 
area with an offer backed by big capital funds. However, it was an 
affirmation that we are on the right track with our plan, and I think it 
soundly demonstrated to all present that these networks are being built  
and deployed by big business for municipalities

Many of the operational points are congruent with our model, present on 
the wiki.

http://wheel.dcn.davis.ca.us/~help/dokuwiki/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=fiberrfei.pdf

The city gets an asset, there is a wholesale entity that operates the 
network and leases access to it to providers.

FNC thinks we might broker access to different content providers, like a 
netflix or hulu directly, but we will lease access to ISP, Video and 
Phone providers,.

The city pays for it but gets back revenue through the whole sale 
provider's lease fees to ISPs.

They offered complete design, build, and operate services for this 
network, that would then be open access to ISPs. Downside is they charge 
thousands of dollars per address per year. For 30 years. So yeah - these 
larger institutions with access to this type of financing and build out 
expertise are charging a premium.
Then it would become the property of the city after 30 years if it made 
the payments. to JPMorganChase/Goldman/McQuarrie Capital whomever big 
finance is for there implementation.

They just completed a project for Taos New Mexico, and I know McQuarrie 
Capital is involved closely with the Utah fiber build out "Utopia"

So way more money than just what a build out would cost. However, I'm 
sure it would work as advertised, and some people were impressed with a 
24-36 month build out. They did say that as long as they get paid 
though, they wouldn't mind "where it came from" leaving it open to other 
sources of revenue.

There are other vendors to meet with, offering similar services, and a 
volunteer present at the meeting informed us of a good local contact who 
has been part of building out fiber optic networks in New England for 
municipalities, that gave a from the hit quote in line with the 
estimates we have come up with.

Perhaps the best outcome was City, and UCD staff taking the concept 
seriously enough to make time to attend this talk, in light of other 
scheduling conflicts.

Word from City is that perhaps sooner than later a Task Force will be 
put together to advise the council as to the best course of action, ala 
what GD has said happened with the start of DCN at multiple DavisGIG 
meetings.

Onward! and I'll be calling a next steps Central Committee Meeting for 
the first Wed in October.

RAN

Can someone tweet about this?

P.S. Anyone else who was there have anything to add?