Page 9 - Nov-Dec18

you could lease dark fiber, or you can MICROTRENCHING
construct a network yourself.
OR DIGGING
The hurdle, of course, is funding.
Each option reflects a significant
financial investment. While challenging
for larger cities, this obstacle is far
more of a roadblock in rural areas
because there is no perceived return
on investment by the traditional
telecommunications companies. So,
in many cases there is not a willing
partner available. These circumstances
leave rural communities faced with
fewer choices. They are forced to allow
their citizens to be passed by or to
investigate DIY options.

Dig Once

The U.S. DOT’s Intelligent
Transportation Systems Joint Program
Office estimates the average cost of
deploying fiber-optic cable is about
$27,000 per mile. Costs range between
$6,000 and $267,000 per mile! The
cost of materials is really only around
10 percent, while 90 percent is due
to construction costs when the work
requires significant excavation of the
roadway. (Source: Federal Highway
Administration)

The legislation nicknamed “Dig
Once” provides for the inclusion
of broadband conduit and fiber
installation in federally-funded
construction projects. The concept has
been in the works for over a decade,
and many forward-thinking cities
have embraced the idea, sometimes
called “Trench Once.” Laying the
conduit and/or fiber at the time
of road construction eliminates
duplicate construction costs. With this
legislation, the U.S. infrastructure is
positioned for the future in the most
cost-effective way for the taxpayers. No
one can predict the demand for data in
the next 10 to 20 years, but we know
our lives are going to be even more
connected.

Successfully implementing a “Dig
Once” policy in your community
requires leveraging rights of way that
are owned and managed by many
different stakeholders. Coordinating
the timing of construction projects
can be challenging because it requires

Continued on page 10

View online at tnpublicworks.com 9