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<br /> 120 <br /> <br />Recommendation #5: Formalize a BIP to Make Use of Broadband Assets <br /> <br />The City of San Leandro should begin to formalize a Broadband Infrastructure Program <br />(BIP), focused on continuing to meet the needs and demands of the City operation, while <br />bringing value to the greater community, and monetizing any assets that are available. <br />Cities across the United States, and in California specifically, are developing these types <br />of infrastructure programs to drive new revenues to the city and to support the long-term <br />sustainability of their communities. The City’s IT Division is already leading efforts that <br />can, with some further planning and development, be formalized as a BIP. This can <br />include the City’s plans to deploy Smart City initiatives. Revenues can be generated off <br />conduit and dark fiber assets, lit network services, and through the lease of vertical assets <br />such as street lights and towers. And in many cases, municipal broadband networks can <br />provide residential fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) or business fiber-optic telecommunications <br />services both in retail and wholesale offerings. <br /> <br />There are several tasks required in order for San Leandro to formalize such a program, <br />including: <br /> <br />• Document and maintain an inventory of available assets; <br />• Implement a fiber management system; <br />• Develop and standardize agreements for fiber and conduit leasing; <br />• Develop pricing policies for fiber and conduit leasing; <br />• Publish rates and terms; <br />• Create a City enterprise fund to maintain proper budgets, cost accounting, and to <br />track revenues of the program; and, <br />• Create a capital fund to cover costs of building infrastructure. <br /> <br />The City should plan to incrementally grow its program as outlined in this analysis, <br />layering additional services onto the network as the City moves through the various <br />phases of the plan. This series of progressions will allow San Leandro to take measured <br />steps to deploy broadband throughout the community, enabling the City to incrementally <br />expand its network as opportunities and community needs present themselves. This City <br />should work closely with Lit San Leandro on any network opportunities that become <br />available within their footprint. <br /> <br />Recommendation #6: Release RFP for the Solicitation for Partners <br /> <br />The City of San Leandro must identify how it will utilize the fiber-optic network to bring <br />next-generation broadband services to the greater community. The City will also have to <br />select the most appropriate business model that aligns with the vision of the community <br />and its leadership, and one that fits organizationally into the City’s municipal operation. <br />While many communities strive to be a fully functioning provider of retail services, this <br />comes with significant challenges. The most common approach is for the City to contract <br />many of its municipal operations to other organizations; this should be considered when