Council Preview: Utlities Advisory Council To Discuss New Fiber Optic System

The Utilities Advisory Council will be meeting at Palo Alto City Council Chambers at 7 p.m. tonight to solicit feedback on a Citywide Ultra High-Speed Broadband System project.

The Council is looking to install a new $11 million fiber optic network, which would expand access to broadband services. Wireless access points in Palo Alto would be increased for both City departments and public safety, as well as commercial and public use. Furthermore, the council is aiming to develop communication infrastructure needed to support future Smart Grid Applications such as an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMS) system.

With the expansion of smartphones and 4G networks, the council would also like to put more cellular towers in and around Palo Alto.

“Until a few years ago, wireless communications facilities were generally located in commercial or industrial areas,” states the council in the report it will be presenting tonight. “As coverage and network capacity issues emerge due to the inexorable consumer adoption of wireless devices...the need for additional wireless communication facilities will continue in the foreseeable future.”

To develop a business plan, the council has worked with the consulting firms Columbia Telecomunications Corporation (TLC) and Tellus Venture Associates (Tellus).