City of Thomasville CNS

1. Welcome to FISPALIVE Atlanta 2014 City of Thomasville CNS Just because it’s City doesn’t mean it’s Shi**y “Building a Community Network” By: Marvin Golden

2. Unserved communities Thomasville 18,488 Cairo 9,821 Camilla 5,059 Pelham 3,869 Moultrie 14,506 Doerun 783 Funston 450 Sylvester 6,283 Bainbridge 12,603 Quitman 3,664 We began Internet Service for the same reason we built an electric plant in 1906. No one else was interested in investing in our community. Without these two visionary initiatives. The results would have been the same We would still be “in the dark” Our founders may have been prophetic. The Seal of the City charter reads “a luceHujis” in latin. Roughly translated as by this light we are accountable. FISPALIVE 2014

3. The journey began March 1996 Community Network Services 1996 1999 2001 2005 2008 2009 2013 2014 Started Dialup ISP Started DOCSIS 1.0 In Thomasville Expanded to Cairo, Camilla, Moultrie CLEC Sylvester SGGSA Bainbridge, others Added VOIP phone service Quitman All accomplished without using taxpayer money or federal monies. FISPALIVE 2014

4. Many services, one network Community Network Services 15800 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modems 3? Dialup 66 E-rate School Sites 700+ miles of fiber 100 Website Hosting Assisted in the launch of Tifton Ga network 60 Cisco Mesh APs 200 Metro Ethernet Circuits Video on Demand SmartGrid 7200 SIP Phone Service 19000 Cable Television Service 2 wireless service providers Telehealth Network Interactive Distance Learning Network

5. Fiber Optic connectivity FISPALIVE 2014

6. Equipment, vendors, consultants Lucent OC Tandberg Nortel NG Polycom Sunrise Telecom T-BERD Arris C4 CMTS Omnitron Systems Arris cable modems Fujikura Fusion Splicer JDSU RF Cable tester JDSU T-berd 8000 OTDR Cisco Juniper Mikrotik Fluke OptiviewXG, Metroscope, Linkrunner,,OneTouch FISPALIVE 2014

7. We are the same, but different. • In most ways we are the same. • We do have to pay pole attachment fees even in our own city. • We do pay for Make Ready and in some areas this can be very costly. • We do pay taxes even though the local tax is paid to “ourselves” • it is still a cost of business. • We have to submit to the same FCC, PSC, and State regulations. • We hold a CLEC and maintain that. • We are pressured to produce NET profit just like you. • Our net profits are paid back to the general government fund • Because of our business services there is no property tax levied in the city. • How are we different. • We ultimately answer to a city council who are elected to office. • We have Electric crews in each city who perform make ready for us • in some cities and contract out for work in other cities. • We still have to pay them but our cost is less than a contractor. • All cities use the same Fiber contractor, we keep him pretty busy, • there is a lot of cost saving there because we all negotiated the contract. FISPALIVE 2014

8. You can do this It’s not rocket surgery! What do you need to do the same thing A core network with Internet Access. An Engineer or more who can design, oversee the build, and maintain fiber optic networks A CLEC Negotiate a contract with a make ready contractor Negotiate a contract with a fiber installer for aerial and underground Identify fiber partners and negotiate reciprocal lease terms Maintain a motivated passionate sales team. Do the math Double check the math Have someone else check your math Always include contingency monies, you just never know. The more of these things you do in-house the less you spend. FISPALIVE 2014

9. Tips • After over 30 years in this business. • Do • Start small and build incrementally • Seek out excellent partners, vendors and consultants • Participate in FISPA, listen, share, learn. • Don't • Don’t believe everything your are told, always verify.. • If you don’t understand it, don’t do it. • Don’t confuse cost with value, • whether it is for what you are selling or what you are buying FISPALIVE 2014

10. Questions?