Crews working on broadband project

Outside plant construction is nearing the end of the season for the Northeast Minnesota Middle Mile Fiber Project. Crews have been working on fiber terminations and splicing as the network is moving toward operation. NESC is in the field labeling and preparing circuits for turn up. There will be more than 180 sites that will be turned up. Then, construction will continue to bring fiber to more critical sites in 2013. Photo is of Cyan staff late fall working at one of the Optical Transport Network sites as part of the project.

Equipment installs

Representatives from Cyan and GE Battery were installing equipments at OTNs across the region this week as part of the broadband project. Pictured is a representative from Cyan at the Citon facility in downtown Duluth.

2012 Construction

Inside wiring has occurred at anchor sites that requested inside wiring. Fiber terminations are currently taking place at the sites that were constructed to in 2011. Also, contractors have been performing drops across the region to NESC anchor sites. The contractors continue work on the OTN facilities.

Fiber terminations being scheduled

NESC will be terminating fiber starting in September across the region. This will include mounting a fiber termination device at facilities that have outside plant cable complete. We will work with the anchors on scheduling when someone will be at anchor sites to terminate the fiber.

Project update

The pre-construction meeting for 2012 construction was conducted Thursday at NESC. One important next step is contact approval from Washington. A schedule of construction for 2012 is expected to be put together and is still forthcoming. Work on the Optical Transport Network sites is still currently being performed and fiber testing is still taking place. Fiber terminations are also expected to be scheduled starting mid-month.

Pre-construction meeting

The pre-construction conference is scheduled for Aug. 2 at the Northeast Service Cooperative. This is to discuss 2012 construction for the broadband project.

Inside Wiring

Inside Wiring for sites that have selected inside wiring and have had a walk through performed by NESC will start on Wednesday. NESC will notify the primary contact at the sites to give them a date(s) that the contractor will be on site to perform the wiring. If you have any questions, contact Melissa Cox at 218-748-7609 or mcox@nesc.k12.mn.us.

Technology Needs Assessment

NESC is working on a technology needs assessment survey for cities across the region. After working with communities and continued feedback, this aspect will be important in determining ways of broadband connectivity for these anchors sites. 

MMFP Top Headlines

The Middle Mile Fiber Project received top headlines on Light Wave regarding working with Calient and Cyan. To read more about this venture: http://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/2012/06/calient-cyan-partner-for-cdc-roadm-deployment.html

Walkthrough Schedule for inside wiring.

The Northeast Service Cooperative has set up a schedule for anchors sites that have requested a walkthrough for inside wiring for connections to the broadband project. The schedule has been posted on the Northeast Service Cooperative Website at: http://www.nesc.k12.mn.us/anchors/walkthroughs

Broadband Assessment for Schools

The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) has released an assessment of broadband for schools. The study indicates recommendations to address K-12 infrastructure needs. The information can be reviewed at http://www.setda.org/web/guest/broadbandimperative.

Community Connect Grant Program

The notice has been published for the Community Connect Grant Program through the United States Department of Agriculture. This grant opportunity is for the deployment of broadband service "to extremely rural, lower-income communities on a community-orientated connectivity." The notice can be viewed at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/rd-ruscommconnec2012-10614.pdf.
The Technical Assistance Grant findings and report will be available to communities this spring. Meetings have been set with model communities next week. Regional meetings will be set up following.

Broadband update

We continue to work on getting out Network Service Agreements to the various entities. Cities and townships will be getting updated agreements in April-May. These are currently being reviewed and are getting to the leaders in those communities. We look forward to getting critical service sites connected!

City Connections

The Northeast Service Cooperative hosted a meeting with RAMS city leaders with the assistance of RAMS Executive Director Ron Dicklich. Another meeting was conducted in Carlton County bringing together community leaders. At the meetings, NESC leadership discussed issues and solutions for cities looking to get sites connected to broadband, but may not be able to pay the minimum cost for participating in the project. One solution is looking at a Technology Needs Assessment throughout the region. The presentation is available for viewing at nesc.k12.mn.us/meetings.

Starting next week: Installation of network equipment at OTNs.

Photo: Haines & Arrowhead OTN site. Photo by Tiffany Anderson


Network equipment installation for the Optical Transport Network (OTN) equipment shelters remodels are scheduled to begin next week starting with Hibbing and continuing to Mountain Iron, Cloquet, Citon and UMD. It will take an estimated three days at each site for the installs. For the OTN prefabricated shelters, electrical is expected to be powered at Barnum and Floodwood this week, with testing and inspection to follow. The remainder of the sites have been prepared for additional equipment and battery arrival. 
Splicing at the remodel facilities will begin at the end of March into the first week of April. The equipment from Cyan will arrive in mid-April, with network provisioning and testing to follow.

Are you going to get connected?

We continue to work with critical service sites to get them connected to the project. Across Northeastern Minnesota, schools, libraries, higher education, state, county, city, health care are signing up to get connected to broadband. The deadline for being able to take advantage of the 50% anchor discount is quickly approaching. Anchors have until the end of the month to sign up and get that discount with the signing of a 10-year contract. If you have not heard from us regarding pricing, contact Melissa Cox at 218-748-7609 or mcox@nesc.k12.mn.us and we can go over information for getting your sites connected. When the snow and frost and road restrictions go, the next construction season will kick off in high gear. We look forward to bringing 915 miles of fiber optic backbone into eight counties: St. Louis, Carlton, Cook, Lake, Pine, Koochiching, Itasca and Aitkin.

Anchors

For anchors that have signed a Network Service Agreement, there are next steps to get your site connected. The anchors are responsible for inside wiring and equipment. We have information on our Website related to specifications for those at www.nesc.k12.mn.us/anchors/next steps.

Executive Director blogs on project

Executive Director Paul Brinkman of Northeast Service Cooperative has provided a interesting and informative blog on the project. If you have an opportunity, view his blog at: http://paulbrinkman.blogspot.com/2012/02/northeast-middle-mile-fiber-project-on.html.

Was your city constructed to in 2011?

With more than 415 miles of construction complete for the Northeast Minnesota Middle Mile Fiber Project it raises the question: "Is my city a broadband community?"

In 2011, the Northeast Service Cooperative constructed the fiber optic backbone in three of the eight counties it will serve including Lake, Cook and St. Louis County. Crews placed drops to more than 80 sites. As your entity signs a Network Service Agreement, we will get your site connected.

We placed fiber in the following communities:  Aurora, Carlton, Cloquet, Cromwell, Duluth, Ely, Esko, Floodwood, Hermantown, Hibbing, Moose Lake, Mountain Iron, Proctor, Silver Bay, Soudan, Two Harbors, Virginia, Willow River, Wrenshall, Gilbert, Eveleth, Tower, Barnum.

In 2012, we will continue construction for the project expanding into the additional counties. We will also continue connecting sites in the communities that have fiber currently.

So how does your site get connected? We will be working with your sites to get them connected to the project. We have entities signed on board for the project.

If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Cox at 218-748-7609 or mcox@nesc.k12.mn.us

OTN Facilities Delivered; waiting for equipment

The remaining Optical Transport Network (OTN) equipment shelters were delivered this week to Barnum and Floodwood. Equipment for the remodels is still in the process of being ordered or has been ordered. It has been estimated by contractors that it will take 4 to 6 weeks to get all the equipment for the remodel sites. An agreement will need to be approved for the Citon building, which should occur early next week.
The OTN shelters will need to be complete with equipment prior for the network to be operational.

Getting Critcial Service Sites Connected

It was excellent season of construction for the Northeast Minnesota Middle Mile Fiber Project in 2011 with more than 415 miles of fiber optic completed in St. Louis, Lake and Carlton counties.
The broadband infrastructure project spans across eight counties in Northeast Minnesota including St. Louis, Carlton, Aitkin, Cook, Lake, Koochiching, Pine and Itasca.The project will create a fiber optic backbone of 915 miles and connect critical service sites across the region.
Currently, the Optical Transport Network (OTN) Equipment Shelters are being delivered across the region in Ely, Silver Bay, Barnum, Tower, Hermantown and Floodwood. The OTN remodels are occurring at Hibbing Community College, the University of Minnesota-Duluth, City of Cloquet, Citon, Northeast Service Cooperative (NESC). Equipment for the shelters will be arriving in the next several weeks. This means the network is getting closer to being "lit" with each accomplishment!