HomeMy WebLinkAbout9 Board Broadband Committee
AGENDA ITEM # 9
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MEETING DATE: February 2, 2022
TO: Board of Directors
FROM: Steven Poncelet, Public Information and Strategic Affairs
Director
SUBJECT: Informational Update on the Board Community Broadband
Committee
APPROVED BY
Brian C. Wright, General Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive this informational report and provide input.
DISCUSSION:
In November, the Committee set the goal of presenting their final recommendations to the
District Board at the March 2, 2022 regularly scheduled Board meeting. District staff last
provided an update to the Board during the regularly scheduled January 5, 2022 Board
meeting.
The Committee met again on January 13, 2022. The agenda is attached (Attachment 1).
Key highlights from the Committee meeting include:
Adopted Resolution 2021-03 to continue remote meetings;
Reconfirmed the initial project scope and the proposed goals prepared by the
General Manager Community Broadband Task Force and listed in previous
reports and the timeline to present recommendations to the District’s Board at the
March 2, 2022 Board meeting;
The committee is focused on community-wide broadband and feel a sense of
urgency for both the Committee and the District;
Each of the three Committee working groups shared their draft findings and
recommendations and the Committee developed a plan to finalize each group’s
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recommendation and incorporate into a final Committee presentation and
recommendation:
o Supply Group: Continuing to investigate existing TDPUD
fiber/communication assets, existing contract with Plumas Sierra Telecom
(PST); and existing Broadband technologies (particularly last-mile). Met with
PST and District staff to expand understanding. Concern about the timing of
the expiration of District’s existing contract with PST (February 22, 2022) and
the Committee’s recommendations to the Board on March 2, 2022;
o Demand Group: Continuing to look into the changing California definition of
‘underserved’ for broadband in communities and what community-wide
needs are. Working to build the demand case locally and are basing this
case on the need 5-10 years out; and
o Benchmarking/Funding Group: Continuing to narrow their focus towards
successful models and steps to access funding. Believe that, if the District
moves forward, the new broadband entity would need to be designed to
minimize the risk to the traditional electric and water utilities . Investigating
different business models and funding sources for their recommendation.
The Committee developed a plan to consolidate the three group’s
information/recommendations into one overall Committee presentation and
recommendation. This will be discussed and finalized at the next Committee
meeting on February 10, 2022. The Committee has expressed a strong desire to
present their findings and recommendations directly to the District’s Board on
March 2, 2022.
GOALS:
3. Engage with our customers and communities in a welcoming and transparent way to
identify opportunities.
4. Take the best of private sector thinking to modernize the utility and add value to our
communities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with this informational item.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Regular Broadband Committee Meeting January 13, 2022 at 3:30 p.m. Agenda