Following the BTOP MoneyWhat to do after the grant arrives

Merit’s REACH-3MC Project

Educause August 4, 2010

Bob StovallVP, Network Operations & Engineering

bes@merit.edu734-527-5704

Agenda Merit for Michigan REACH-3MC Scope Funded – Challenges Begin

Learning the Bureaucracy! Engineering the Network Implementation & Delivery Lesson’s Learned Measuring Success! Questions & Answers

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The Michigan Education Research Information Triad (MERIT) formed in 1966 because, “significant benefits might be gained from sharing computing resources via an electronic linkage…”

Merit is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Merit operates the longest running Regional Optical Network

(RON) in the country. Established Affiliate Member program in 1990 to connect Higher

Education, K-12 Schools, Libraries, Government, Health Care, Research Organizations, and other Non-profit Organizations.

1969 NSF grant for computer networking with only comparable work at BBN (ARPANET)

Merit Embarks on a Fiber and Wireless Backbone Strategy in 2003

2010 ARRA grant to construct a middle-mile fiber optic infrastructure in rural areas of Michigan (REACH-3MC)

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About Merit

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Merit for Michigan

Merit’s Goal has been to interconnect the Upper Peninsula and Lower Peninsula by fiber

2008 Competed UP, Bridge, and most of Southern lower Peninsula

2009 ARRA Opportunity

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Merit for MichiganREACH-3MC – Awarded!

Rural, Education, Anchor, Community, Healthcare – Michigan Middle Mile Collaborative

Merit’s ARRA application was approved on 1/20/10.

Middle-mile network covering over 955 miles and reaching 33 counties.

72 strands of fiber 3 – For-Profit Partners

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REACH-3MC Scope Routes are in four corridors:

Southern Corridor, Monroe to Benton Harbor Western Corridor, Benton Harbor to

Mackinaw City Central Corridor, Mount Pleasant to Hillman Eastern Corridor, Midland to Oscoda

Segment lengths are selected to match fiber loss verses optical system transmission capability

Intermediate cities were selected for “drive by” to allow future service to under served areas

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Engineering the Network

Engineering & Build Process: 955+ Miles! Dedicated Project Manager Environmental Assessment Engineering Permitting Materials Construction Equipment installation

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Engineering the NetworkEnvironmental Assessment:

Required by NEPA Must be completed within 6 months of notification Permitting and Construction cannot start until EA is

accepted

Permitting Process: Engineering firm creates the permit documentation Require digital photographs of all utility poles Merit team will submit permits to the appropriate entities Control the process and priorities

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Funded – Opportunities Begin Learning the NTIA/BTOP Program

Compliance Environmental Assessment State Historic Preservations Office Tribal Historic Preservations Office Quarterly Reports

How are we responding? Breaking down the process…keeping in mind the easy

and hard stuff. 1st Engineering, 2nd Construction, 3rd Materials

Streamlining processes and managing the dollars Manage those easy wins!

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Engineering the Network

Using one Engineering firm for the whole project Provides consistent documentation Consistent process Easier to project manage Control cost

Unit pricing $0.01/ft savings equals $57,400 over the whole

project Utility management

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Engineering the NetworkConstruction:

Bid out as per unit (cost per foot and per splice) Economies of scale Increased flexibility Ability to move construction crews as needed ~20 Crews – estimated to complete 1 mile per day, 20 miles a day, estimated

to take 50 work days to complete the outside plant work Critical part is permitting and make-ready

Materials: Purchase in bulk! Economies of scale Consistent materials through out the infrastructure Control delivery of materials Consistent operational management after installation

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Engineering the NetworkDetermining the fiber route/path:

Drive the route early and often Early spring Learn something different with each drive

Approach route in both directions Different direction, different perspective In urban areas walk the area

Search for existing conduit and infrastructure Already disturbed surfaces Someone else has already figured it out

Don’t believe the tools and documentation Visually verify each site

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Engineering the Network

Route changes after EA submission Work with NTIA Project Officer Continue to investigate saving opportunities Work with local communities to discover current

infrastructure opportunities Remember changes must be aligned within the

scope of project

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Implementation & Delivery

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Fiber Utilization Plan: Merit will immediately light two pair of fiber

One fiber pair will be lit with long haul DWDM 10ge electronics and connect major sites

Approximately 150 to 200 miles apart No mid segment node insertions planned

The second fiber pair will be lit with CWDM 1ge electronics

This will be the access network Many mid segment insertions planned Driving signal both directions to nearest 10g node

Remaining dark fiber will be available for future network expansion and lease

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10g North Node

10g South Node

1g Mid Node

1g Mid Node

Services – Leveraging the Infrastructure

REACH II

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Lesson’s Learned – So Far!

Community outreach is critical Start engineering as soon as

possible Work closely with State

Governmental Agencies Department of Transportation Department of Natural Resourses State Historic Preservation Office Tribal Offices

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Lesson’s Learned – So Far!

Manage the easy stuff Greatest areas of savings and speed The hard stuff is the great unknown

Keep utilities informed Competition is your greatest asset Manage in bite size pieces Learn from others

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Discussion/Questions

More Information:http://www.merit.edu/meritformichigan/