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SENDING THE LIGHT

IMPLEMENTING A

FIBER OPTIC HIGHWAYIN WISCONSIN

10th Rural Telecom Congress ConferenceSpringfield, Illinois

October 16, 2007

Sharon L. Bremser, P.E. WisDOT State Intelligent Transportation Systems Engineer

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Today’s Presentation on WisDOT’s

Fiber Optic Highway: ITSNET

•Background

How did we get here

•Existing Network

Where are we today

•Proposed Network

Where will we be tomorrow

•Questions

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Background:

1997

•WisDOT initiated an effort that interstate, freeway and expressway corridors could and should be considered for utilization as a fiber optic and other telecommunication highway corridors.

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AT&T Request

1999

•WisDOT was approached by AT&T (formally Touch America Inc.) whom expressed interest in access to WisDOT right-of-way, extending from the Illinois border to the Minnesota border, for the purpose of further developing its coast to coast fiber optic network.

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Agreement

2000

• WisDOT and AT&T negotiated a 40-year right-of-way agreement and the significant terms were:

1. WisDOT’s use of 36 dark fibers, conduit, hand holes, and cash in exchange for newly constructed communications facilities within WisDOT’s Interstate 94 & 894 right-of-way from Illinois border to Minnesota border.

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Agreement – Continued

2. Carrier retained ownership of all conduit/fiber, but granted WisDOT an indefeasible right of use (IRU) for 36 fibers in separate conduit.

WisDOT agreed not to market excess fiber to other carriers, but can allow other public entities to use it. Agreement is not exclusive.

WisDOT retains right to share right-of-way with any other users.

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2001

WisDOT was given authority to use the asset value of the dark fiber as soft match for ITS Earmarks that would be used for network construction.

FHWA approved $200,000 of previously incurred state expenses as soft match for future project expenditures.

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2001 –2003 Budget

Wisconsin ACT 16 created a revenue appropriation that allows all funds WisDOT receives for its permission to utilize existing highway rights-of-way to be reinvested in the fiber optic system and avoids having those funds diverted to the state’s general fund or segregated Transportation Fund for other purposes.

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2001-2003 Budget

Another provision allows all funds WisDOT receives for services to public entities related to the 36 fiber telecommunications system to be reinvested in the system and avoids having those funds diverted to the State’s general fund or segregated Transportation fund.

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2003

UW - WisDOT Agreement – parties executed a 20 year agreement – will provide a minimum of $218,000 annually for system needs.

Agreement provides UW four of the 36 strands of fiber optic network and space in WisDOT regeneration facilities.

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2003

Military Affairs - WisDOT Agreement – parties executed a 20 year agreement similar to UW.

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2004

FHWA gave final approval of additional soft match. The asset value of the dark fiber network to be used as soft match for ITS earmarks is estimated at $8.5 million.

Unused value of the dark fiber soft match is banked and is used as match on ITS projects that use or are significantly benefited by the fiber optics network.

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2004

WisDOT - Milwaukee’s Public Private Transportation Center

WisDOT has entered into a 40 year public private relationship to reconstruct Milwaukee Amtrak Depot and create a central City Transportation Center.

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2005 EXISTING ITSNET NETWORK:

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WisDOT Uses of The Backbone

Traffic Management

•monitoring traffic flow

•traffic control

•incident management & response

•traveler information

•roadway weather conditions

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WisDOT Uses of The Backbone

Safety and Weight Enforcement

These needs relate to enforcement activities conducted at the Safety Weight Enforcement Sites (SWEF’s) operated by the WisDOT’s Division of State Patrol and designed by the Bureau of Highway Operations.

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WisDOT Uses of The Backbone

Traffic Operations Center

The Statewide Traffic Operations Center (STOC) is operated by WisDOT. The STOC is located in the Milwaukee metro area and has been adding oversight of the Southwest, Northeast, North central, and Northwest safety and traffic monitoring.

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WisDOT Uses of The Backbone

WisDOT Business Operation

These needs generally include current operations that have very high bandwidth requirements and are in close proximity to the I-94 corridor. These are primarily oriented to basic infrastructure components for the DOT information technology network, and the Division of State Patrol microwave communications network.

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WisDOT Uses of The Backbone

Broadband Capacity for Other Agencies

This use is related to very high bandwidth needs of other governmental or educational entities that can access the I-94 corridor. The University of Wisconsin System and other state and local units of government are the beneficiaries.

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Other WisDOT Uses of The Backbone

Disaster Recovery of IT Database

Remote backups of LAN Servers/Server Consolidation

Alternative Microwave Routes

Distance Learning

Homeland Security

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2005 PROPOSED NETWORK

•WisDOT reorganization places operations management of the fiber optic network in the Bureau of Highway Operations.

•The Milwaukee Traffic Operations Center is given statewide duties and 24/7 traffic monitoring duties.

•Funding for Phase III fiber optic design and construction is approved.

•WisDOT obtains IRU’s from McLeod and Qwest for use of fiber in highway corridors.

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PHASE III DESIGN AND CONSTUCTION

Four Primary Components:

1. Extend existing WisDOT fiber from Milwaukee to Green Bay along I-43.- Green Bay DOT office- Regeneration Hut near Sheboygan

2. Extend existing WisDOT fiber from Eau Claire to Green Bay along US 29.- State Patrol – Wausau- Regeneration Hut near Tilleda and Thorp

3. Construct a spur from Fond du Lac to Madison along US 151.- State Patrol – Fond du Lac

4. Construct a spur from Green Bay to Fond du Lac along US 41.

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2006 PROPOSED NETWORK

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2006

Completed RFB for Fiber October 2005

Design Engineering June 2006

Construction December 2006

Training April 2007

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What’s Next?

•Deployment PlanNew TechnologyHighway CorridorsMultiple Applications on the same fiber

•Financial PlanMaximize financial efficiencies

Operations ModelBuy-Build-Operate-MaintainStaffing

•Customer NeedsShort and Long Term Commitments

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Questions and Comments

Wisconsin DOTWisconsin DOT

Sharon L. Bremser, P.E., ITS EngineerSharon L. Bremser, P.E., ITS Engineer

608 266 8460608 266 8460608 261 6295 FAX608 261 6295 FAXsharon.bremser@dot.state.wi.ussharon.bremser@dot.state.wi.us

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Questions and Comments

Wisconsin DOTWisconsin DOT

Sharon L. Bremser, P.E., ITS EngineerSharon L. Bremser, P.E., ITS Engineer

608 266 8460608 266 8460608 261 6295 FAX608 261 6295 FAXsharon.bremser@dot.state.wi.ussharon.bremser@dot.state.wi.us