2007-01-22 Regular - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

January 22, 2007 look and the navigation is much easier. It will improve public communication and supply updated information and services. Ms. Brot asked if the Council’s e-mail addresses had been added and if Councilmembers could have some instructions on participating in blogs. Regarding Bill 8921, about an internal fiber network that connects our city government’s internal cable system, attorney Paul Martin, was present to answer any legal questions about “dark fiber”. Ms. Meine offered to answer any application questions. This bill does not relate to cable or video networking. Mr. Price’s technical question was on redundancy when fiber gets cut. Ms. Meine said that there isn’t any redundancy, so if the cable is cut our system will be dependent on Charter for fixing it. She said it will be important that we get good service. Ms. Ricci asked that the Bill’s title be corrected to master from mater. She asked if the 15% surcharge was standard. Mr. Martin thought this related to the maintenance charge. He said that there should not be any additional charge; this point was part of the uniform agreement of Charter’s. Ms. Ricci was concerned whether the cost of $10,000 under 3.2 of maintenance was for a year or the life of the contract and she wanted to know what the life of the contract was. Ms. Ricci asked about the confidentiality clause; Mr. Martin responded saying it meant that it would still be subject to the Sunshine Law. She asked Mr. Martin what he thought of the contract and he responded saying that the agreement protects the city and gives it the right to use the cable for five years at a good price. Mr. Wagner asked if there were any comparable pricing figures on the cost. Ms. Meine said that AT&T’s T-1 pricing was $1,000 to $1,300 per building per month and Charter’s price was $414 per building per month with a faster service. Mr. Wagner was not aware of the rationale of the surcharge. Mr. Martin said he would get back with a more detailed explanation of what it covered. Mr. Wagner asked just what was meant by maintenance in this contract. Ms. Meine said that the dark fiber is installed under ground and above ground. It can be cut during construction, so the City needed assurance that Charter’s repairmen would come out and fix it quickly. Mr. Martin said that this is not a typical dark fiber agreement. Instead it is a conduit that goes through their main cable and if for some reason this cable is severed, all users connected to the main cable would have to share the cost to replace it. Mr. Wagner asked what could happen to the cable as he thought we had dedicated cable. Ms. Meine said that the dedicated part consisted of loops coming from the main cable for the City’s use. Ms. Brot asked for an explanation from Mr. Martin about the maintenance agreement mentioned in the contract. She asked what “imposition” meant under exhibit A in the contract. Mr. Martin said that this inferred that Charter could pass on additional taxes to the City. Mr. Sharpe, Jr., asked if there was any renewal clause in the contract. Mr. Martin said since Charter would not agree to it, there was not any renewal clause. 3