FAQ: Google Fiber and “One Touch Make Ready”
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]For those curious about why Google Fiber is not yet available in Nashville, you’re not alone. We highly recommend you read this excellent article by the Nashville Scene, which has a thorough breakdown of the delay and examines all sides of the situation.
Because Concept Technology is a Google Fiber Tech Partner, we’d like to share some responses to frequently asked questions about One Touch Make Ready that we’ve published below.
What is “Make Ready”?
Building a new broadband network is fastest and simplest when providers can use existing infrastructure. The most efficient way to do this is aerially, attaching the fiber to utility poles. “Make Ready” is the process by which a utility pole is prepared for a new attachment of fiber, cable, or other equipment — in other words, how the pole is “made ready” for additional attachments.
To make room for a new attachment, existing attachers have to move their equipment up or down the pole. Today, that work is done sequentially, with each attacher sending different crews one after the other. Depending on the number of attachers, the process can take many months to complete for a single pole.
What is “One Touch Make Ready”?
“One Touch Make Ready” or “Climb Once” policies are an effective way to reduce the disruption, inconvenience and delay that come from work by multiple pole construction crews. They allow any new provider attaching to a pole to perform all make-ready work, as long as it uses engineering designs and contractors allowed by the pole owner.
Why is this important?
One Touch Make Ready reduces disruption and saves time. New networks are deployed at a huge scale, affecting thousands of poles. When each existing attacher sends a separate crew to perform make-ready work, it is far more disruptive to neighborhoods and to traffic flows than if a single contractor performs all the work. One Touch Make Ready also significantly reduces the time it takes to deploy a network, facilitating competitive services that benefit consumers and the economy.
What is the solution?
One Touch Make Ready policies are a great way for states, cities and utilities to effectively, efficiently and safely manage use of the public rights of way, reduce the inconveniences that accompany deployment of modern broadband networks, and speed up access to competitive services.
What about the broad community & industry support?
One Touch Make Ready has broad support among those who encourage the deployment of competitive new networks. For example, Fiber to the Home Council has published a supportive blog post and paper (available at https://goo.gl/7veL6H). Next Century Cities — a coalition of communities supporting better broadband — has also advocated for this proposal on nextcenturycities.org.
How can I take action?
- Get educated and read the the actual ordinance: BL2016-343
- Take the iCitizen Poll. Vote your opinion on the One Touch legislation.
- Send a note to your Council Member.
- Attend Metro Council’s vote on One Touch Make Ready legislation September 6, 2016 at 6:30pm. The vote takes place at the Metro Courthouse (One Public Square), David Scobey Council Chamber.
It’s worth noting that the One Touch Make Ready ordinance doesn’t just benefit Google, but will help all ISPs that want to more quickly develop an infrastructure in Nashville. Competition among ISPs results in more options and better products for our clients, and that’s something we strongly support![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][wproto_image image=”10751″ link_type=”custom” custom_link=”http://concepttechnologyinc.com/googlefiber/” image_align=”aligncenter”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
