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Using Abandoned Utility Lines For Fiber Optic Networks

APWA Congress, 2014Mike Walker

Director of Public Works City of Sandy, Oregon

Sandy• Commuter/Bedroom

community located approximately 20 miles east of Portland, OR

• Population 10,000

• Gateway to Mount Hood recreation areas

• Municipally-owned Internet Service Provider

• Created in 2001 in response to poor or non-existent broadband service from local Telco and CATV franchises

• Started out as a re-marketer of dial-up and DSL service through leased Telco facilities

• Transitioned to wireless (900 MHz, 2.4 GHz) service using City-owned streetlights and communication towers with fiber backbone

• Over 1400 residential and commercial customer accounts

• Currently building Fiber to the Home (FTTH) network serving entire City – completion December, 2014

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2002Grow Sandy Net from DSL reseller to full-service ISP • SandyNet customer base was small, funds

for system expansion were limited• Wireless mesh network had the lowest

installation costs• Need for a fiber link between: Telco central

office, SandyNet servers and antenna site• To reduce costs City chose to place fiber

(2,500 feet) in two recently (1993 and 1994) abandoned 6” steel water lines

Pulling 3x1.25” flexible conduit through abandoned water line

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Wireless antennas mounted on streetlights

2008 - 2009Extend fiber to antenna sites and City facilities• Two 120 ft. tall antennas erected for wireless

mesh service and AMI/AMR system

• Fiber backhaul for SandyNet traffic and AMI/AMR data placed in abandoned 6” water main (5,200 feet)

• Urban Renewal/utility undergrounding project in downtown core included fiber conduit, (microduct) splice boxes and dedicated fiber service to City facilities

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120-foot antenna at water reservoir site

Antenna at Public Works Operations Center

• Water line project replaces 4,200 LF of 6” DIP with 12” DIP

• After 12” line is placed into service 6” line is used as conduit for fiber optic microduct

• Includes highway crossing

• Additional 4,000 LF microduct placed by conventional bore / trench methods

• Connects Public Works/Transit Operations building with existing fiber network and other City facilities

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Proprietary microduct

2010-2013• SandyNet customer base begins to outgrow

wireless system, Fiber to the Home (FTTH) solution explored

• Water transmission main project designed and let for bid - included 27,700 LF 2” conduit and pull boxes for SCADA and communications between pump station and terminal reservoir

• 96 – strand fiber for Sandy Net FTTH project 12- strand fiber for SCADA / communications

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• Started out i3/SiFi – proprietary weighted fiber-optic cable placed in invert of storm or sanitary sewers

• Unable to reach an agreement with i3/Si-Fi solicited proposals for FTTH design-build

• Selected conventional bore/plow/trench FTTH system – currently under construction

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If we had to do it over again…• Start out with Master Plan• Use a consultant

Why it worked …• City Council and citizen support• Change in telephone use – landlines

are on the way out• Small organization can adapt and

change quickly• Luck

Mike WalkerDirector of Public Works 39250 Pioneer Blvd.Sandy, OR 97055mwalker@ci.sandy.or.us503-489-2162

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