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<br /> 118 <br />What are Broadband-Friendly Public Policies? <br />Broadband-friendly public policies are tools that San Leandro is formalizing that will encourage <br />broadband infrastructure growth. These include many items that are already informally performed by <br />the City, such as practices that reduce the duplication of effort and minimize the cost associated with <br />installing utility and broadband infrastructure within its jurisdiction. Below is a list of ways that the City <br />can encourage broadband development through the adoption or continuation of broadband-friendly <br />policies: <br />Evaluate fees levied on broadband providers for constructing broadband infrastructure to <br />ensure they do not discourage broadband investment. <br />Develop methods to streamline the broadband permitting processes within public rights-of-way <br />to ensure broadband providers do not face unnecessary obstacles to building infrastructure. <br />Develop a process so that municipal Planning, Engineering, Public Works, and IT departments <br />coordinate with each other to identify projects in which infrastructure can be installed at <br />reduced costs. <br />Identify opportunities to install broadband infrastructure in conjunction with public and private <br />construction projects. <br />Maintain broadband infrastructure specifications in a City-owned GIS-based fiber management <br />system, requiring updates as built, and implement processes for accurate documentation. <br />Adopt policies that incorporate broadband as a public utility and create a policy framework to <br />promote its deployment in public and private projects as appropriate. <br />Draft policies specific to San Leandro’s needs and adopt them into local policy, codes, and <br />standards (including Dig Once, joint trenching, engineering standards, etc). <br />Incorporate broadband concepts into San Leandro’s Capital Improvement Plans (CIP) as <br />appropriate and make a commitment to funding broadband infrastructure. <br />The City should adopt a Dig Once ordinance and effectively manage its new wireless <br />communications ordinance for placement and method of 5G small-cell deployments. <br />The City should adopt in-kind negotiation strategies when licensing small-cell pole attachment <br />agreements. <br />Comprehensive Broadband Standards and Joint Trenching policies that incoporate broadband <br />infrastructure requirements into San Leandro’s land development statutes or General Plan will allow and <br />encourage broadband construction in conjunction with other capital projects. For example, installation <br />of fiber-optic conduit during all projects involving roads, sidewalks, trails, or lighting projects where the <br />ground is to be opened for other purposes would be less costly than installing conduit through <br />standalone broadband projects. Since the majority of costs to build broadbnad infrastructure are <br />incurred through trenching, boring, and restoration, this strategy can alleviate significant costs by <br />opening the ground once instead of multiple times. In many states and municipalities, this formalized <br />policy is referred to as a “Dig Once” policy.