Since our fiber build plans went public in 2008, our Metro Fiber Team has experienced first hand how community support and public policy are essential components to a successful, city-wide fiber build. Even with the right experts on staff, the latest fiber optic technology on hand, and the funding available, a project can still suffer setbacks if it faces unexpected community pushback or disagreeable public policy.

The Community’s Role
Residence and business owners play a significant role in the success of a city-wide fiber optic build; their desire for the project, or lack thereof, can determine the outcome. Since Digital West is headquartered in a community that advocates for technology growth (note our Central Coast Cable Landing Stations, the Cal Poly Tech Park, the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce’s Technology Advocacy Committee, Softec), our team has been fortunate to receive community support that has outweighed any pushback. In the end, when community members understand that a fiber optic network will enable their local and global communities to flourish, it will.

Disagreeable Public Policy
If fiber optic infrastructure does not fit within a City Council’s priority or vision, metro fiber or Intercity fiber projects can be almost impossible to implement. Our existing infrastructure (that consists of 12 miles of fiber into 40 office buildings) and our growth plans (that will double the network to 25 miles of fiber in the next two quarters) have been accomplishable due to the support of our public/private partnership with the City of San Luis Obispo.* When City Council and staff are focused on bringing the latest technology to its residence, their support will facilitate the success of a fiber build.

Project Setbacks
Even the smallest details or minor concerns regarding fiber optic construction can result in delayed schedules. One well-known and recent example is Google’s fiber build in Kansas City. According to an article written by Ray Walters on Geek.com, the project “[had] been stalled due to bureaucratic red-tape issues that should have been discussed up front.”

With Google’s passion leading their charge, we knew a little red tape would not stall their fiber build for long. A recent Google Fiber blog article highlights their progress by stating, “We’ve measured utility poles; we’ve studied maps and surveyed neighborhoods; we’ve come up with a comprehensive set of detailed engineering plans; and we’ve eaten way too much barbecue. Now, starting today, we’re ready to lay fiber.”

It Takes A Village
As Google and our team at Digital West understand, a successful city-wide fiber optic build takes a village to implement. And as a result, the village as a whole will benefit.

*no wonder the City was named one of the happiest places to live – a notion with which our staff strongly agrees.