Broadband Plan

“Bedford: Broadband Vision 2020”

May 1, 2018

Performed by

“Navigating the Seas of Technology”

6260 Pine Slash Road Mechanicsville, Virginia 23116 (804) 559-6004 www.atlanticgroup.us.com

Acknowledgements

The following people are acknowledged for their efforts in providing guidance and support to this project:

Board of Supervisors

Bill Thomason (District #1) Edgar Tuck (District #2) Charla Bansley (District #3) John Sharp (District #4) Tommy Scott (District #5) Andy Dooley (District #6) Kevin S. Willis (District #7)

Broadband Advisory Committee

Allen Boaz-Chairman Kevin Mele Darrell Campbell Carl Levandoski (Staff) Greg Modzelewski Charles Calloway (School Staff) Lee Walker Ed Hoisington (School Staff) Robin Hartman Jordon Mitchell (Staff) Bill Guzek Traci Blido (Staff)

Staff Leadership

Carl Boggess, Esq. (County Administrator) Reid Wodicka, PHD. (Deputy County Administrator) Patrick Skelley, Esq. (County Attorney)

Planning Commission

Lewis Huff (District #1) Jeff Burdett (District #2) Ron Steele (District #3) Josiah Tilett (District #4) John Dawson (District #5) David Mays (District #6) Tom Woodford (District #7)

Consultant George N. Condyles, IV President & COO The Atlantic Group of Companies, Inc.

Index Page 1. Executive Summary…………………………………………………………………………………………6

2. Glossary of Terms………………………………………………………………………………………….10

3. Broadband….What does it mean? ...... 14

4. Broadband Goals and Objectives……………………………………………………………………17

a. Residential……………………………………………………………………………………………17

b. Small Business………………………………………………………………………………………18

c. Bedford County…………………………………………………………………………………….18

5. Broadband….What providers and type of service are available In Bedford County 2017………………………………………………...... 19

1. Existing Providers (Technology and FCC Status) a. Wireless…………………………………………………………………………………21 b. Wire based…………………………………………………………………………….32 2. Composite View of Existing (2018) Service Coverage…………………………….40 3. Tower Infrastructure (2018)………………………………………………………………….42

6. “The Broadband Plan” known as “Bedford Broadband Vision 2020” 1. Infrastructure Planning for Bedford County………………………………………….44 a. Tower Site Construction ……………………………………………………47 b. Fiber Optic needs for backhaul…………………………………………..50 c. Microwave Requirements for backhaul……………………………..72

2. Schedule of Deployment a. CY 2018……………………………………………………………………………………………79 b. CY 2019……………………………………………………………………………………………80

3. Funding Requirements………………………………………………………………………….82 a. Capital b. Operational

4. Recommendations………………………………………………………………………………..83

Diagrams #1: Speed vs. Data Usage Chart……………………………………………………………..19 #2: Example of LMR Home Service Network………………………………………….23 #3: TVWS………………………………………………………………………………………………24 #4: Example of WiSP Service…………………………………………………………………28 #5: Example of Satellite Service…………………………………………………………….31 #6: Verizon Fiber Optic “Trunking” Routes………………………………………...... 33 #7: Verizon Fiber Optic “Distribution” Routes……………………………………….34 #8: Comcast/ShenTel/Lumos/Verizon Composite Service……………………..35 #9: Mid Atlantic Broadband Fiber Optic Network………………………………….36 #10: ShenTel Fiber Optic Trunked Network……………………………………….....37 #11: Lumos Fiber Optic Trunked Network…………………………………………….38 #12: Comcast Network………………………………………………………………………….39 #13: CIT Composite Results 2017 Existing Broadband Coverage…………….41 #14: Communications Towers in Bedford………………………………………………43 #15: Proposed 11 Site TVWS System……………………………………………………..45 #16: TVWS Broadband Coverage @ 98%...... 46 #17: Example of Proposed Communications Tower Loading………………….48 #18: Example of Equipment Compound…………………………………………………49 #19: Coverage Map – Big Island…………………………………………………………….51 #20: Coverage Map – Big Island Elementary School……………………………….53 #21: Coverage Map – Wheat Valley Reservoir……………………………………….55

#22: Coverage Map – Boonsboro Collection Center……………………………….57 #23: Coverage Map – McGhee Road ……………………………………………………..59 #24: Coverage Map – Shady Grove………………………………………………………..61 #25: Coverage Map – Hardy Collection………………………………………………….63 #26: Coverage Map – Moneta VFD………………………………………………………..65 #27: Coverage Map – Dundee/Huddleston VFD…………………………………….67 #28: Diagram – Co-location on New London Water Tank……………………….68 #29: Coverage Map – New London………………………………………………………..69 #30: Coverage Map – Montvale…………………………………………………………….71 #31: Proposed 11 Site System Locations……………………………………………….72 #32: MW Paths……………………………………………………………………………………..73 #33: Path Studies (% Site Locations)………………………………………………………74

7. Exhibits

Exhibit 1. Strategic Decision…September 1, 2017………………………………………….85

Exhibit 2. Budget Details for an individual Communications Tower……………….89

Exhibit 3. Schedule-CPM………………………………………………………………………………..90

Exhibit 4. . Citizen Survey Data………………………………………………………………………91

Exhibit 5. Strategic Plan for Commercial Wireless Telecommunications Facilities: August 21, 2012………………………………………………………112

Exhibit 6. Adaptrum Southern Virginia Innovation Center TV White Space Technology as a Solution for Rural Broadband Access……………..117

Exhibit 7. Adaptrum BETA Test Quotation……………………………………………………123

1. Executive Summary

May 1, 2018

To the Board of Supervisors of Bedford County,

This study focused on the deployment of Telecommunications Infrastructure in relationship to Broadband technology growth within Bedford County, Virginia. The Atlantic Group studied several technical and geographic areas and has determined that Bedford County is progressing in a positive direction in this subject area. While improvements need to be made in the infrastructure planning and application review, the residents of Bedford County are currently using “data services” for home and business uses and will continue to seek greater speed, reliability, and choice of service providers.

There is an explosion of Broadband services and applications that concern all areas of a community. Bedford County is making positive progress in all spectrum areas of simple internet access such as applications for education, commerce, telemedicine, entertainment, business applications, economic development and many more. The demographics of Bedford County and the high demand for Broadband services have led to the next phase of Broadband technology and the infrastructure to address this evolutionary growth. The focus time goal for this study is the year 2020 and what will be required to address the “needs” for broadband.

There are several “truths” that must be reinforced when discussing Broadband and its future in a community environment.

They are:

1. There will not be a “one technology wins all subscribers” that will make other technologies obsolete in the digital age.

2. Networks will continue to be “hybrid” in nature with various delivery systems, transport technologies, transmit frequencies, device access and infrastructure requirements.

3. Service equipment will migrate toward “generic” technologies with speeds that will provide faster “uplink and downlink” to the subscriber.

4. The consumer/subscriber will “shop” for services that they can afford but have multiple service providers that they contract. There will be less “one stop shop” service single providers. The consumer will say: “My device will subscribe to the services I want, when and where I need them. The technology is irrelevant to me.”

While many of the delivery systems for broadband cannot be discussed in great detail because of proprietary research and development, the providers make known what the emerging technologies are. There are “common” elements of the delivery systems that will address many of the technologies. These “common” elements are communications infrastructure such as towers, fiber optic cable (feeder/distribution)-backhaul, and location of telco central offices, cable provider nodes, Air Space availability, NEPA requirements, and Section 106 requirements.

The important point is not to believe that there will be “one technology” that will define broadband, but look at the technology that has a “hybrid” component that may deploy various speeds and volumes of data at affordable cost depending on the usage and speed required. Remember, not all “users” have the same requirements.

The Atlantic Group’s assessment is that Bedford County has progressed “marginally” with Broadband services. The largest deficiency is “infrastructure placement” most notably wireless communications facilities or “towers.” While approximately 75% of the County is covered with acceptable levels of “voice” service, there is a large gap of 50%+ in “data” service levels.

The Atlantic Group has worked with many counties over the years where the county may have a “deficiency” in broadband. Counties tend to address this issue from various points of view. Some counties take a “hands-off” approach because they believe that it is not the place of local government to promote a commercial venture. While on the other extreme, many counties have created a “Broadband Authority” which has become a service provider with the ability to impose “fees” under the laws of The Commonwealth of Virginia. Most counties are somewhere in the middle of the involvement spectrum.

The Bedford Broadband Advisory Committee may seek to “collaborate” with broadband service providers for greater broadband services. They periodically meet with service providers and hold open dialog to assist the unserved and underserved portions of the County. Occasionally, a local Broadband “Authority” will seek to place a fiber-optic cable or build a communications tower to assist the smaller providers thru a “Public/Private” venture.

Working with the Center for Innovative Technology or “CIT” early in 2016, the County Broadband Advisory Committee received various indicators from the Survey performed by CIT concerning the current status of broadband to the various communities but also valuable feedback on the types of applications of broadband such as educational, commercial, and leisure uses.

In addition to other efforts, Bedford County has included space on the County web site to all Broadband providers that facilitates information about who is providing such services and in what general technology platform. Bedford County has collaborated with the community and the providers for antenna space on existing water tanks.

The Atlantic Group was engaged in July of 2017 to study the existing status of Broadband and to make recommendations for its growth within the County that will provide this service to as many residents as possible. The outcome of this study determined that a “wire and wireless” link or “Last Mile” to the home would be the most expedited method of service delivery.

The Atlantic Group recommends an eleven site wireless system designed for a Television White Space technology or “TVWS”, unlicensed iWiSP, microwave, commercial Land Mobile Radio.

To meet this last mile infrastructure requirement, Bedford will utilize the existing Montvale tower site, co-locate on the existing Water Tank at New London Business Park and build nine (9) 195’ self- supportive either lattice or monopole towers with equipment infrastructure, fiber optic cable and microwave technologies.

Recommendations:

With the completion of this Plan concerning the status of broadband and the efforts to expand this service within the county, The Atlantic Group would like to make the following recommendations:

1. Seek the Television White Space (TVWS) technology as the technology of choice for the countywide coverage for the residents of Bedford County.

2. Implement the eleven (11) site wireless TVWS system as proposed in the study on County owned or affiliated properties.

3. Build, occupy and maintain nine (9) new 195’ self-supportive communications towers on county owned or controlled properties.

4. Co-locate on two (2) existing structures, the MBC Montvale Tower and the BCPS Water Tank at the New London Business Park.

5. Accept (co-locate) any technology Broadband provider that does not interfere from a radio frequency perspective on all eleven (11) towers and charge a market rent for tower space.

6. Seek placement of approximately fifteen (15) miles of Fiber Optic cables for “backhaul” capabilities to the towers.

7. Seek to fund with any Public or Private grants.

(Capital Requirement of $3.5 million.)

8. Proceed with the Planning, Design and Construction of the new broadband system.

Bedford County is well positioned to continue growth in the broadband technology sector in its quest to meet the needs of its residents.

George N. Condyles, IV

President & Chief Operating Officer

2. Glossary of Terms

AGL – Above Ground Level – the height above ground as measured from the ground to the top of the structure.

Amateur Radio Service – Also known as “Ham Radio”, the service is designated for personal use, but may assist the local community in cases of emergency and disaster communications. Amateur radio is not permitted for commercial use or for profit. All frequencies are shared. No frequency is assigned for the exclusive use of any amateur station. Millions of amateur radio operators are capable of communicating with each other worldwide.

AMSL – Average Mean Above Sea Level – equal to the sum of the above ground level (AGL) and ground elevation (GE).

Analog Service – Modulating radio signals that carry information such as voice or data.

Antenna – An exterior apparatus designed for telephonic, radio, or television communications through the sending and/or receiving of electromagnetic waves.

Backhaul- The ability for a radio signal transmitted by a “user” to a receive antenna located on a communications tower to have the ability to be transported to a switched telco network for access to the World Wide Web. This is typically accomplished with a fiber optic cable or point to point microwave link.

Bandwidth – The range of signal frequencies, expressed in hertz (Hz) that can pass over a given transmission channel, and that a medium will respond to without excessive attenuation (loss of signal strength). The bandwidth determines the rate at which information can be transmitted through a circuit.

Broadband – Broadband generally refers to high-speed internet access. It’s the ability to transfer large amounts of information at a fast rate of speed. The FCC defines broadband service as data transmission speeds exceeding 25 Megabits per second (Mbps), in at least one direction: downstream (from the Internet to the user’s device) or upstream (from the user’s device to the Internet)

Cell – The basic geographical unit of a cellular communications system. Service coverage of a given area is based on an interlocking network of cells, each with a radio base station (transmitter/receiver) at its center. The size of each cell is determined by the terrain and forecasted number of users.

Cellular Communication – Communication via low power transmitters to service geographical areas or cells (see Review of wireless technologies).

Co-location – The sharing of space on a structure to support multiple carriers.

Digital Service – The method of encoding bits of information using a binary code of “0s and 1s”. In digital service the analog voice signal is converted into a series of 0s and 1s allowing more channels within a given bandwidth thus greater efficiency.

Downlink – Also known as “talk-out” is the radio frequency path from the cell site antenna to the receiver at the subscriber unit, i.e. mobile phone.

FAA – Federal Aviation Administration

FCC – Federal Communications Commission

Fixed Wireless Network – The operation of wireless devices or systems used to connect two fixed locations, such as a point-to-point microwave system used for transporting backhaul communications. Wireless backhaul connections typically replace a T-1/T-3 line(s) and is used to transport a company’s internal infrastructure, both voice and data communications.

GE – Ground Elevation

Guyed Lattice Tower – Lattice tower that is supported vertically by wire cables.

Handoff – A frequency channel will be changed to a new frequency channel as the vehicle moves from one cell to another without the user’s intervention.

Height Above Average Terrain (HAAT) (or less popularly, EHAAT, Effective Height Above Average Terrain) is a measure of how high an antenna site is above the surrounding landscape.

Internet - An electronic worldwide network of computers and servers providing access to millions of resources worldwide.

Interoperability – The ability for subscriber equipment to access various wireless networks and have the ability to transmit and receive messages and data.

Last Mile- Term used for the last link for a radio signal to reach its destination to a home or structure for the delivery of Broadband Service. This can be accomplished with copper or fiber optic cable or through a wireless medium such as Wi-Fi, Point to Multipoint or other various technologies.

LEC – Loop Exchange Carrier – a communications company licensed to provide local exchange service for telephony service providers.

Mini/Micro Cell – Small structure, typically not greater than 80’ AGL, used to fill “holes” in coverage.

Monopole – Cylindrical, self-supporting structure, erected vertically, used to mount antennae.

Multimedia –In the context of mobile communications, a service that may combine voice, data, graphics, and video information.

Multiple Band – A phone that has multiple-band capabilities and can switch frequencies.

Multiple Modes - A phone that can switch back and forth between “modes” or the type of transmission technology being used.

MW Link –Microwave Link –Digital service licensed by the FCC for the transmission and reception of compressed voice and data. Microwave systems are used to transmit large amounts of data, from point to point, over greater distances than traditional broadcast systems (see Review of Wireless Technologies).

Propagation – The physical principle of the energy emitted through broadcasting a frequency as it relates to transmission, power, ASML, antenna gain and transport loss.

PCTDA – Permitted Commercial Tower Development Area. Pre-Planned location areas where commercial towers can be erected to provide for commercial wireless carriers. These are plotted at a road intersection with a 1/2-mile radius for location of a Tower.

Radio Frequency (RF) – Generally, a frequency from approximately 50 kHz to 3 GHz. RF is usually referred to whenever a signal is radiated through the air.

Rx – Receiver – A wireless radio device that receives a broadcast from a transmission device allowing the broadcast circuit to be completed.

Self-Supporting Structure – Either a monopole or lattice design tower that is free- standing and requires no additional support.

Spread Spectrum (SS) – A common technique that spreads a signal bandwidth over a wide range of frequencies for transmission and then de-spreads it to the original data bandwidth at the receiver.

Stealth Technology (Stealth) – A technology used by the cellular industry to hide or shield a wireless communications facility from view. A system to disguise and blend into the existing topography and not be detected or recognized.

Subscriber – The consumer of a telephony service such as broadband, cellular, etc.

Topographic Study – How the terrain and other land forms and natural features impact the transmission and receipt of radio waves.

Tower – Vertical structure made of steel that is designed to hold communications antennas and electronics for the transmission and reception of radio signal. These come in three main varieties: Self-supportive Lattice, Guyed Lattice and monopole structures. Heights and structure strength vary and are designed using EIA/TIA 222-G specifications.

TX – Transmitter - a wireless radio device that broadcasts a signal to be received by a specific receiver device.

Uplink – Also known as “talk-back” is the radio frequency path from the subscriber unit, i.e., mobile phone to the receiver at the cell site.

Wireless Communications Facility - A facility used for the transmission and reception of radio, satellite and/or microwave signals for the transmission and reception of communications. The Facility includes but is not limited to a communications tower, equipment shelter or cabinets, cables, antennas, microwave dishes, satellite dishes, commercial power transformers and power distribution panels with meters, telephone communications/fiber optic “backhaul”, standby power generator(s), fuel tanks, fencing that provides security for the tower, and ground equipment.

Wireless Internet –The provision of internet services through specialized devices over a wireless network. Also known as “Broadband.”

Wireless Internet Service Provider – (WISP) a provider of wireless internet that is typically using unlicensed FCC frequencies as part of the broadband initiative.

3. Broadband….What does it mean?

“Broadband” has evolved as the generic term for “internet access” for most localities in the United States. Simply put, the “user” or “subscriber” seeks to have a fast and broad ability to upload or download data for use. Hence the term “Broadband” has come to symbolize a term that has two dimensions, volume and speed.

In 2018, volume and speed are measured in Megabits per Second of service for a subscriber.

Megabit per second (symbol Mbit/s or Mb/s, often abbreviated "Mbps") is a unit of data transfer rate equal to: 1,000,000 bits per second.

The FCC, tasked with overseeing the rules that govern the Internet, raised the standard for broadband to 25 megabits per second from 4 Mbps, while raising the upload speed to 3 Mbps from 1 Mbps on Jan 29, 2015.

As internet access has evolved over the last several decades, the speeds, bandwidth, equipment, and delivery technology has taken this service from a luxury to a necessity.

Below is a chart provided by the FCC concerning Home Broadband services defined by usage. The FCC has developed a spectrum of use from data tabulated from their internal studies.

They are:

1. Light Use

2. Moderate Use

3. High Use

These “usages” are also defined by the number of “users” or “subscribers” within a household. As a result, the more “users” the greater “bandwidth” is required to serve them.

(See FCC Charts Below: Household Broadband Guide & Broadband Speed Guide)

Example of Data Usage:

4 people in a home:

2 parents + 2 children = 4 users

-All have their device on and checking e-mails… 4 x .5 Mbps = 2.0 Mbps

-All Surfing the Web/Facebook………………………. 4 x 1 Mbps= 4.0 Mbps

-Son Gaming with person in Germany……………..1 x 4 Mbps = 4.0 Mbps

- Daughter video Streaming a Movie………………..1x1.5 Mbps= 1.5 Mbps

-Mom Video Lecture/Distance Learning……………1x4 Mbps = 4.0 Mbps

-Dad working on Office Report…………………………1 x 2 Mbps = 2.0 Mbps

Total Mbps required………………………………………………………………17.5 Mbps

4. Broadband Goals and Objectives

The goal for Bedford County is to provide adequate and evolving broadband service to 100% of county residents and business.

Goals-Project

1. Facilitate fast and reliable Broadband services to all residents of Bedford County who chose to subscribe.

2. Facilitate the deployment of “Last Mile” infrastructure to areas that are unserved or underserved to stimulate service providers to deploy commercial broadband networks.

3. Promote Broadband services within Bedford County to enhance education/on-line learning, commerce, information technologies and entertainment services.

4. Place County owned towers on County owned or affiliated property and deploys communications towers and fiber optic cable for all technologies to share the facilities.

5. Recoup these costs over time by leasing these facilities to private commercial service providers.

Objectives

The objectives of this project are to provide fast and reliable service to all residents. Each resident should have at least two choices (satellite being one choice) in selection of a service provider.

1. Residential

a. Provide a service offering by either a wireless or wire base solution.

b. Provide as a minimum level of service at 10 Mbs down load and a 3 Mbs uplink to the internet.

c. Provide for wireless service a signal strength of -84 dBm or greater for indoor penetration of wireless signal.

d. Promote different wireless technologies. (WiSP Wi-Fi, TVWS, LMR, Cable TV)

2. Small Business

a. Provide a service offering by either a wireless or wire based solution.

b. Provide as a minimum level of service at 25 Mbs down load and 10 Mbs uplink to the internet.

c. Provide for wireless service a signal strength of -84 dBm or greater for indoor penetration of wireless signal.

d. Promote different wireless technologies. (WiSP Wi-Fi, TVWS, LMR, Cable TV)

3. Bedford County

a. Design, Bid and Build nine (9) self-supportive 195’ communications towers as per The Plan.

b. Design towers to support all wireless technologies. (Wi-Fi, LMR, TVWS and Microwave)

c. Seek wireless service providers to co-locate on towers.

d. Place fiber optic cable to provide “back-haul” for these sites.

e. Place microwave links to locations that have no fiber optic solution.

f. Manage these sites in periptery as per FCC/FAA requirements.

5. Broadband: What providers and type of service are available in Bedford County 2018

Telephony Background:

Historical Telephony Speeds

On Diagram #1 below, historical usage was limited to the delivery system of the local telephone company switched network that primarily was developed for voice service. As new and improved devices such as modems, microchip design, laptop computers and servers providing a “portal” of access to records and data files, the speeds have risen significantly. The telephone company or Loop Exchange Carrier (LEC) upgraded their “switching” equipment from analog to digital data format and then upgraded to higher speeds of data. In conjunction with deployment of fiber optic cable, the LEC continued to deploy Optical Remote Modules in the network to provide for more reliable and higher speeds.

By observing the bottom left of the Speed vs. Data Usage Chart below, you may observe the type of service with the speeds associated with that service.

Today, Bedford County citizens demand service speeds approaching 25Mbps.

Diagram #1: Speed vs. Data Usage Chart

The Federal Communications Commission & Virginia State Corporation Commission

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has the responsibility for all communications that are produced or received within the boundaries of the United States by the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

The FCC provides for the citizens to have representation of communications issues. The federal government has jurisdictional responsibility to ensure that business providers of such voice and data services are acting within prescribed practices and technologies that ensure a level and fair playing field for those companies within the telecommunications industry to serve the public.

The FCC manages the providers of telecommunications within the United States by regulating the technology, radio frequencies and the equipment used to provide transmission and receiving of signals for these technologies.

As the incumbent telephone company providers known as “Loop Exchange Carriers” or “LECs” are regulated for voice services, also Cable companies and other providers of voice and data services are “non-regulated” by state tariffs and can charge what the market will bear for their services. The incumbent telephone company can do the same for data services. The services are considered “Non-Tariffed” in their classification.

Bedford County, Virginia- Current Telephony

In the case of Bedford County, the incumbent telephone company, Verizon, has a telephony network in place currently, however because of limited Central Office “switching” and limited fiber optic “feeder” cables, there is limited fiber optic “distribution” cable into the populated areas. Verizon provides “Plain Old Telephone Service” or “POTS” which is regulated by the Virginia State Corporation Commission. Any service faster than this speed is considered a “Special Service” which Verizon can price to meet its corporate objectives. In comparison, the cable provider, COMCAST, also deploys fiber optic cable and makes its decision for fiber optic cable deployment on a subscriber per mile threshold. For Comcast to provide broadband service, it also looks at capital expense and operational cost, and also prices its services to corporate goals and objectives. Because of these two dynamics between the LEC and a cable provider, many of the residential citizens of Bedford County are underserved or unserved in most high speed networks. Communities such as The Town of Bedford, New London and Boonsboro may have sufficient broadband service with several choices of providers. Citizens located in the County typically have limited access to more than one service.

Provider Service Cost/Technology Trend

The cost of providing one (1) wireless circuit for broadband verses one (1) wire line broadband circuit is approximately one tenth (1/10) the cost. Meaning a Wireless broadband connection capital cost would be only 1/10 the cost of a land line connection. However, all wireless broadband facilities must have high speed digital service such as DS-4 (Digital Subscriber -4) and feed by fiber optic cable to each tower site.

This is why “Wireless Broadband” is the current and future wave of technology.

The “Last Mile” providers in Bedford will most likely be of wireless mode for the majority of County residents and businesses. The capital cost that would be required to place broadband landlines/Fiber Optic cables throughout the County to the home would be astronomical in price.

1. Providers (Technology and FCC Status)

Wireless “Last Mile”

Wireless communications have evolved over the last fifteen years. The networks have developed into three (3) distinct technologies:

1.) FCC Licensed (Commercial LMR) = AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, US Cell, Sprint

2.) FCC Unlicensed (iWiSP)= SCS, B2X , etc.

3.) FCC Licensed Satellite Wireless Networks (Direct TV, HughesNet etc.)

a. Wireless Technology and Providers:

They are described as follows:

1. Licensed Wireless Networks for Bedford County

A. LMR-Land Mobile Radio

The FCC has opened radio frequency for both licensed and unlicensed networks. Typically the “Licensed” networks are what are known as “LMR,” “Cellular,” or “Mobile” networks. These are typically owned and operated by the large cell companies such as:

a. AT&T Mobile

b. Verizon Wireless

c. Sprint Mobile

d. T-Mobile

e. US Cellular Mobile

These companies operate within Bedford County. The industry identifies these companies internally as “Land Mobile Radio” providers or “LMR.”

The FCC has designated “Blocks” of frequencies that each of these companies “bid” upon by “frequency block” and geographic area to engineer and develop a “LMR” network. These areas are known as “Basic Trading Areas” or BTAs. Bedford County is in the “Lynchburg” BTA. The LMR providers must adhere to USC CFR 47.*

The typical “LMR” bands are 800 MHz, 1.9 MHz and 2.1 GHz frequency.

All LMR providers have a service such as Verizon’s “Home Fusion” system is being deployed now. The theory of “Home Vision” is that a directional antenna tuned to the Verizon blocks of frequencies will be pointed into the direct azimuth to a nearby tower that has the Verizon LMR antennas and equipment.

Note:

Most wireless systems, whether Licensed LMR, Un-Licensed iWiSP or TVWS require the basic equipment setup.

Generically this is:

1. Transceiver located on a communications tower within a specific radius from the residence or building.

2. Direction two-way antenna mounted on the roof with an azimuthal direction facing back to the tower transceiver.

3. Network Interface device (Router) located within the residence or building.

4. Wireless network modem located in a central part of the residence to provide 100% in- building coverage.

5. Personal devises such as digital wireless laptops, tablets, TVs and PDAs.

Diagram #2

Example of LMR Home Service Network: Outside Antenna pointed at nearby Tower

B. Television “White Space” or TVWS (Halifax & Charlotte Counties)

In telecommunications, white spaces refer to frequencies allocated to a broadcasting service but not used locally. Typically these are analog TV frequencies.

National and international bodies assign different frequencies for specific uses, and in most cases license the rights to broadcast over these frequencies. This frequency allocation process creates a band plan, which for technical reasons assigns white space between used radio bands or channels to avoid interference. In this case, while the frequencies are unused, they have been specifically assigned for a purpose, such as a guard band. Most commonly however, these white spaces exist naturally between used channels, since assigning nearby transmissions to immediately adjacent channels will cause destructive interference to both. In addition to white space assigned for technical reasons, there is also unused radio spectrum which has either never been used, or is becoming available as a result of technical changes. In particular, the switchover to digital television frees up large areas between about 50 MHz and 700 MHz. This is because digital transmissions can be packed into adjacent channels, while analog ones cannot. This means that the band can be "compressed" into fewer channels, while still allowing for more transmissions.

Diagram #3 TVWS

In the United States, the abandoned television frequencies are primarily in the upper UHF "700-megahertz" band, covering TV channels 52 to 69 (698 to 806 MHz). U.S. television and its white spaces will continue to exist in UHF frequencies, as well as VHF frequencies for which mobile users and white-space devices require larger antennas. In the rest of the world, the abandoned television channels are VHF, and the resulting large VHF white spaces are being reallocated for the worldwide (except the U.S.) digital radio standard DAB and DAB+, and DMB. The Atlantic Group of Companies, Inc. Copyright ©2018 Page 24

Television White Space Strengths and Weakness

Strengths Weakness

Well-Funded – Public Companies Budgets must Conform to Sarbanes/Oxley Act, Security and Exchange Commission Annual Budgets and Stock Funding etc.

Large Budgets for Research and Budgets are set to geography and year Development with Proprietary Technology

Deployments are planned and engineered Rigid criteria for deployments no alternatives

Deployment Planning is programed and is Good projects that “miss” the typically on a 3 year cycle. budget/planning cycle cannot be inserted without Executive Approval

Contracts with National tower companies Difficult for local tower companies to receive consideration

Retail outlets for Device/service sales Retail outlets are mostly “Franchised” relationships

Large Corporation with many employees Most “employees” are contractors/1099 and are “rotational” or temporary

Communications Company Consumer has very little ability to contact LMR Engineers or technical people for solutions

Equipment of high quality and complexity Equipment must be maintained strictly and often

Standard deployment: Resist shorter towers and stealth technology integration 199’ tower with equipment shelter or cabinets

Equipment features allow greater ability to Very rigid in the replacement mode of provide a wide and various amounts of obsolete equipment services

FCC License based on geographic area Must maintain that broadcast area or face FCC violation

Subscriber equipment very expensive with Less flexibility to negotiate or move to long contract periods another carrier

Technology : Evolving constantly Speed of Removal of Obsolete equipment

Original Networks designed for “Outside” Current uses and applications are for service “Inside the building” service

Voice service requires “fewer” towers Data services (Broadband) requires more towers with antennas closer to the device

Services are “Measured” as to usage Service providers can “hike” data plans

Services is provided for in “Plans” Subscriber must “shop” plans and negotiate cost

Various types of Subscriber equipment Subscriber “Lost” as to the type and installation

Subscriber “integrates” his equipment into Subscriber wants to place equipment and his house. (Electric, Gas, broadband etc.) not have to change once it is in place

Subscriber wants “interoperable” abilities Now, AT&T phone must be used on AT&T to take his equipment and use Network, etc.

Currently one service provider: Mid-Atlantic Broadband + Adaptrum

C. Unlicensed-Wi-Fi Wireless Networks for Bedford County

Unlicensed “carriers or providers” have strategically directed their frequency base to the FCC provided frequency bands that are able to be used by providers without having to buy or lease a license for a fee. These frequencies were released by the FCC to help stimulate Broadband growth in areas that are unserved or underserved by the LMR service providers. Bedford County is an excellent example.

These service providers must adhere also to USC CFR 47 that pertains to their networks. The FCC requirements limit these providers with the type and power of their equipment, however gives greater latitude in the deployment of their networks with fewer Federal requirements such as NEPA and Section 106 requirements.

The frequency bands are typically the 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and the 5.8 GHz bands.

These service providers are known in the industry as “WiSP” defined by their technology platform “Wireless Internet Service Provider.”

Bedford County has approximately 2 major players currently. They are:

1. B2X

2. SCS

3. Blue Ridge Internet Service

Diagram #4

Example of a WISP Service: Interior or Exterior antenna pointed at a tower

The following short list of potential strengths and weakness that may be expereinced with un-liscensed wireless networks. Un-liscensed WiFi Strengths and Weakness

Strengths Weakness

No FCC “License Compliance” rules Must locally coordinate with other WiSP to prevent interference and Must follow “Guidelines” intermodulation

Locally Owned and Operated

Typically provide “private” financing Limited “Debt” financing

Employ local people

Equipment not a “sophisticated” as Licensed Not as many “features” LMR

Equipment can be purchased “Off the Shelf” Equipment is not as interchangeable. Must be ordered

Ability to get “off the ground” with one site Network must cover 90% of populated areas and geography

Channels can be added Subscriber “logs on and never logs off”

Lower Power levels Shorter Transmission and Receive distances from Tx/Tx site

Equipment physically lighter and can Typical Commercial Tower rent locations on the tower and reserves be mounted to many types of structures lower levels for WISP, not “Prime” sites

FCC allows waiver of Federal requirements such as NEPA and Section 106

These sites can be mounted on wooden poles Can “Pop up” anywhere sunk into the ground or lightweight towers

Subscribers many times “Evolve” between various providers

WiSP requires “backhaul” services Subscribers can just stop paying their bill and move toward another provider Fiber Optic or “Unlicensed” MW

Transmission to device is strong within the Many times WiSP must fund and install structure backhaul

Many “networks” available Signal diminishes when outside

Multiple Networks can be co-located on a Many networks “interfere” with one structure another

D. Satellite Wireless Networks

Satellite service has come a long way since its early beginnings over 25 years ago. While satellite has typically been able to receive or “downlink” a greater amount of data, the limiting factor has been the “uplink” or “upload.” Many times this is accomplished via telephone lines. Today the systems provide an excellent service of both uplink and downlink and have become a viable player not only in the rural but also urban and suburban markets.

There are limitations such as weather and obstructions such as trees and other structures. However, if these issues are resolved then satellite service is very good and is competitive in price.

The satellite providers in Bedford County are:

a. Direct TV

b. HughesNet

c. Excede

d. DishNet

Diagram #5

Example of Satellite Service: Satellite Dish pointed to a terrestrial satellite

Satellite service Strengths and Weakness

Strengths Weakness

Location can be anywhere Must have “Line of Sight” to the satellite

Integrates TV, Internet, voice and data One System “Common point of failure”

Signal strength is excellent Weather Dependent

Many types of channels Too many channels…..

Can operate several devices Not all devices are interoperable

Requires Technical Installation Service response times may be slow

Excellent “in-building” service Not much service outside

Must “size” system for peak operation Channel congestion if not sized properly

B. Wire Based Providers

Today in 2018, fiber optic cable placement is known as “open access system” made up of “lit fiber” and “Dark Fiber’.

Placement of fiber cabling has evolved from the telephone companies and cable providers, to a venture capital type of project that can be owned or operated by any party that seeks the ownership and management of a fiber link.

The industry is broken down into two sectors: Backhaul/Backbone Providers and Dark Fiber Providers.

Trends of Fiber providers:

1. Use hybrid of fiber and copper “Distribution” to serve public and LMR Tower Sites.

2. Very strict “subscriber per mile” deployment.

3. “Dark and Lit” fiber being placed strategically throughout the county.

4. Some place “Dark” fiber on planned growth projections, other plant fiber as per service order request.

Bedford County Fiber Optic Providers

Fiber Optic (Backhaul/Backbone) Providers:

1. Verizon Landline

2. AT&T Landline

3. Comcast Cable

4. ShenTel Broadband

5. LUMOS Networks

6. MBC= Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communications

Fiber Optic routes inside Bedford County

Diagram #6 Verizon Fiber Trunking Routes Verizon Fiber Optic Broadband coverage

Verizon Trunking/Feeder Fiber

Diagram #7 : Verizon Fiber Optic “Distribution” Cables in County

Fiber Optic Service Area (2018)

Diagram # 8: Comcast/ShenTel/Lumos and Verizon Broad Band Composite Service Comcast/ShenTel/Lumos/Verizon Broadband Service area

Diagram #9: Mid Atlantic Broadband Fiber Network Mid-Atlantic Broadband –MBC (Feeder and Distribution)

Diagram #10: ShenTel Fiber Optic Trunked Network ShenTel Broadband Fiber

Diagram #11 Lumos Fiber Optic “Trunked” Network Lumos Broadband Fiber

Diagram #12 Comcast Fiber Optic Network Comcast Existing Service Area - 2018

2. Composite View Existing 2018 Service Coverage for Bedford County

Pockets of underserved to no service.

As indicated below, there are several large areas of the county where broadband service is lacking or in underserved.

Areas:

- North-Western: Big Island Route 221 corridor, Montvale

- Western – Blue Ridge/Rt.43

- Eastern – Rt. 24 south to Huddleston

- South-Western – Moneta-west

While these large areas are unserved or underserved, there as many smaller pockets within the county that may appear to have service but do not.

Many residential home owners have reverted to using the “Satellite Dish” solution. While these services can provide for up to 10 Mbs download speed they are weather and line of site dependent.

The Satellite providers use a “bundling” strategy to provide entertainment and internet connectivity. AT&T has purchased Direct TV and integration of their service with LMR will merge within the next few years.

The biggest hurdle in a rural area will be getting the customer/resident to give up the “data” or internet service on the satellite and just keep the Satellite TV.

As shown in Diagram #5 above, the strengths and weakness for this network will continue for the foreseeable future.

Diagram #13 : CIT Composite Results of Residents and Broadband Service

2017 Existing Broadband Coverage.

3. Tower Infrastructure (2018)

Communications Towers and Vertical Structures

The County has kept close information as to the Wireless Communications Facilities (towers) and the LMR future growth.

These have been carefully inventoried and are in greater number than the FCC Data Base and the results are as follows:

1. Communications Towers……..63

2. AEP/SEC Towers………………….24

3. Silos…………………………………….74

4. Micro Poles…………………………12

5. Water Tanks………………………..7

Total Vertical Assets………………….…113 (98%+ Fed with Fiber Back Haul.)

Tower Trends for LMR data providers:

1. Small sites (Short towers 120’ AGL or less BY-RIGHT with new 2015 Bedford County Ordinance.)

2. Small equipment

3. Community/Neighborhood penetration

4. Strict Subscriber per square mile.

5. Not many 195’ towers left to be required for LMR carriers.

6. All LMR Towers have fiber optic “Back Haul” to the telephony network.

In summary, the LMR carriers have the existing, BY-RIGHT 120’ towers and potential 11 PCTDA (Permitted Communications Tower Development Areas) towers sites for their growth in 2017 and future years that they can survive and thrive with the existing plan and ordinance. The consultant believes that the LMR market for strategic infrastructure is healthy and will continue to grow. No more attention needs to be expended.

Diagram #14 Communication Towers in Bedford County

6. “The Broadband Plan”

Known as

“Bedford Broadband Vision 2020”

1. Infrastructure Planning for Bedford County

Proposed System

The proposed system infrastructure is designed to accommodate all wireless technologies. While the network of choice is the TV White Space, other technologies such as Wi-Fi, Land Mobile Radio and Microwave will also work on these towers. What is important is that each service provider will have an opportunity to provide coverage in areas that there is no infrastructure and hence no service. The Residents and Small Business (Many times located in a residence) will have a second choice above the current satellite dish networks.

Each tower will have either fiber optic or microwave backhaul. Bedford may extend the existing fiber if in a relatively close location, or it has been designed to have a line of site for a Microwave System.

The county will use existing structures such as the Water Tank in New London and the existing tower in Montvale.

In addition, there will be nine (9) 195’ towers located in the county (refer to page 47) that will provide a coverage of 95%+ within the county borders.

Each site will be designed with a 195’ tower, fenced compound, electrical service, backhaul, electrical grounding system and equipment cabinet or shelter.

In summary, each co-locator or service provider will be able to rent tower and land space.

Diagram #15: Proposed 11 Site TVWS System

Diagram #16 TVWS Broadband Coverage Estimated @ 98%

a. Tower Site Construction

Bedford has selected a system that will require eleven (11) broadcast sites. Of these eleven sites one (1) will be co-located on a Bedford County Water Authority Water Tank (site known as New London), the existing tower owned by MBC at Montvale.

The remainder of the tower requirements are nine (9) new 195’ self-supportive lattice/monopole towers. These towers have been placed on county owned or controlled properties thus removing a Lease arrangement with a private land owner. The nine (9) proposed towers will all be of the same design for the tower loading as well as the Site Plan for county review and approval.

These new towers are known as the following:

Site Name Lat/Long Property Owner Structure Height

1. Big Island 37-32-13.6N BCBOS Property 195’ 79-22-00.0W 2. Big Island Elem. 37-31-48.0N BCSB Property 195’ Sch. 79-24-59.6W

3. Wheat Valley 37-29-18.1N BCWA Land 195’ Reservoir 79-32-47.4W

4. Boonsboro 37-28-06.1N BCBOS Property 195’ Collection 79-15-53.6W

5. McGhee Road 37-20-08.0N BCWA Property 195’ 79-34-46.9W 6. Shady Grove EMS 37-19-07.5N Volunteer EMS 195’ 79-43-06.0W 7. Hardy Collection 37-14-11.2N BCWA Property 195’ 79-48-36.2W 8. Moneta VFD 37-11-44.9N Moneta VFD 195’ 79-41-00.6W 9. Fairview Church 37-07-06.4N BCBOS Property 195’ Coll. 79-30-30.1W

10. MBC- Montvale 37-23-12.0N MBC Tower/BCBOS 195’ 79-43-57.9W 11. Exist. New London 37-18-33.1N BCWA Property 140’ 79-20-57.9W

Tower Loading

Diagram #17: Example of Communications Tower Loading

Diagram #18: Example of Equipment Compound

Average Compound is 40’ x 40’

b. Fiber Optic Needs for Backhaul

Proposed Tower Locations on Bedford County Property

Site #1: Big Island

Aerial Photo #1

Infrastructure Requirements

1. 195’ Communications tower with compound (40’x 40’)

2. Backhaul : 3 miles of 12 Strand Fiber Optic cable

3. Electrical Utility

4. County Owned Property

Diagram #19 Coverage Area

Site #2: Big Island Elem. Sch.

Aerial Photo #2

Infrastructure Requirements

1. 195’ Communications tower with compound (40’x 40’)

2. Backhaul : .5 miles of 12 Strand Fiber Optic cable

3. Electrical Utility

4. County School Board Owned Property (Lease)

Diagram #20 Coverage Area

Site #3: Wheat Valley

Aerial Photo #3

Infrastructure Requirements

1. 195’ Communications tower with compound (40’x 40’)

2. Backhaul: MW Connection to New London & McGhee Road

3. Electrical Utility

4. County Water Authority Owned Property (Lease)

Diagram #21 Coverage Area

Site #4: Boonsboro Collection Center

Aerial Photo #4

Infrastructure Requirements

1. 195’ Communications tower with compound (40’x 40’)

2. Backhaul : .5 miles of 12 Strand Fiber Optic cable (Rt. 522)

3. Electrical Utility

4. County Owned Property

Diagram #22 Coverage Area

Site #5: McGhee Road -BCWA

Aerial Photo #5

Infrastructure Requirements

1. 195’ Communications tower with compound (40’x 40’)

2. Backhaul : MW Backhaul to Montvale School & Shady Grove

3. Electrical Utility

4. County Service Authority Owned Property (Lease)

Diagram #23 Coverage Area

Site #6: Shady Grove EMS

Aerial Photo #6

Infrastructure Requirements

1. 195’ Communications tower with compound (40’x 40’)

2. Backhaul: MW to McGhee Road Site & Hardy Collection

3. Electrical Utility

4. County EMS Owned Property (Lease)

Diagram #24 Coverage Area

Site #7: Hardy Collection Center

Aerial Photo #7

Infrastructure Requirements

1. 195’ Communications tower with compound (40’x 40’)

2. Backhaul: MW Backhaul to Shady Grove

3. Electrical Utility

4. County Owned Property

Diagram #25 Coverage Area

Site #8: Moneta- VFD

Aerial Photo #6

Infrastructure Requirements

1. 195’ Communications tower with compound (40’x 40’)

2. Backhaul: 5 miles of 12 Strand Fiber Optic cable to Rt. 122

3. Electrical Utility

4. VFD Owned Property (Lease)

Diagram #26 Coverage Area

Site #9: Fairview Church Road Collection

Aerial Photo #9.

Infrastructure Requirements

1. 195’ Communications tower with compound (40’x 40’)

2. Backhaul: 1 mile of 12 Strand Fiber Optic cable @ Verizon Optical Remote

3. Electrical Utility

4. County Owned Property

Diagram #27 Coverage Area

Site # 10: New London Water Tank

Diagram #28 (Co-location Water Tank Structure)

Infrastructure Requirements

1. Co-location on Water Tank with communications Shelter and generator.

2. Backhaul: 1 miles of 12 Strand Fiber Optic cable

3. Electrical Utility

4. BCWA Owned Property (Lease)

Diagram #29 Coverage Area

Site #11: Montvale Community Center

Aerial Photo #10

Infrastructure Requirements

1. Communications Shelter and Generator Set

2. Microwave: McGhee Road Site

3. MBC Owned Property (Lease)

Diagram #30: Coverage Area

c. Microwave Network

Diagram 31: Proposed 11 Site System Locations

Line of Site Microwave Paths

Proposed MW Path (------)

Diagram 32: Micro-Wave Paths

a. Path Study: Wheat Valley to New London

Diagram 33: Path Studies for 5 Locations

b. Path Study: Wheat Valley to Montvale

c. Path Study: McGhee Road to Wheat Valley

d. Path Study: McGee Road to Shady Grove

e. Path Study: Hardy Collection to Shady Grove

2. Schedule of Deployment

A. Action Strategy :CY’18-CY’19

CY -2018 (1 January to 31 December)

1. BETA TEST- TVWS

-Concept: Provide for a four site (4) system with ten (10) selected subscribers at various radii to use and measure the down link and uplink for the system. Have actual measurement of signal strength.

-Cost: $150,000

-Execution: Work with Adaptrum and their vender to set up this test.

-Evaluation: Adaptrum, service provider and Bedford will evaluate this temporary network for 90 days on a 30 day cycle. This will provide information as to the effectiveness of the system.

2. Design

-Concept: Provide the initial design of each tower site. Engage a Land Surveyor, Site Plan Engineer, Environmental Engineer, Air Space Engineer to begin the design of the nine (9) tower sites.

-Cost : $30,000 per site x 9 Sites = $270,000

- Execution : Consultant to develop RFP for these Professional Services.

-Evaluation: This work will be monitored by the Consultant, Planning Department and County Manager.

3. Grant Submission

-Concept – This is to provide a TRCC Grant/Loan request To fund this project.

-Cost – Consultant Fee : $10,000

- Execution – TRCC Grants are typically due September/October of each year.

- Evaluation – County Administrator and Consultant will monitor.

CY 2019 (1 January to 31 December)

4. Bidding, Contracting and erection

-Concept- After design and planning approval Consultant will write RFP for Contractor erection of towers and placement of Fiber Optic Cable

-Cost………$200,000 per tower site @ nine (9) Sites $1,800,000

- Execution – Follow COVA/Bedford Guidelines

- Evaluation- Monitor Budget and Schedule

5. Implementation: Network Deployment

- Concept- Develop RFP for solicitation of Wireless carriers

- Cost - $5,000 per Site @ nine (9) sites= $45,000

- Execution – Develop RFP to COVA standards.

- Evaluation – Seek to negotiate leases that will repay the project over the first 5 years.

See Composite Captial Cost Below

3. Funding Captial Requirements

Last Mile Infrastructure Requirements (Capital Cost)

Site Tower/compound Backhaul Total

Big Island $250,000 3 miles of Fiber @ $460,000 $70,000/mile

Big Island ES $250,000 .5 mile of fiber $285,000

Wheat Valley $250,000 (2)Microwave $320,000 system@$35,000

Montvale Co-lo (Shelter & Gen.) MW System@$35,000 $110,000 $75,000

Boonsboro $250,000 .5 miles of fiber $285,000

McGhee Road $250,000 (3) MW System $355,000

Shady Grove $250,000 (2) MW System $320,000

New London Co-lo(shelter& 1 mile of fiber $110,000 Gen.set) $40k

Water Tank

Hardy $250,000 MW System $285,000

Moneta $250,000 5 miles of fiber $600,000

Fairview Church $250,000 .1 miles of fiber $275,000

Total Capital $3,400,000 Investment Annual Operational Budget @ $75,000 2% Capital Cost

4. Recommendations

May 1, 2018

To the Board of Supervisors of Bedford County,

The consultant (The Atlantic Group) has studied this project from technical and fiduciary perspectives and would like to recommend to the Bedford County Board of Supervisors the following points of implementation:

1. Seek the Television White Space (TVWS) technology as the technology of choice for the countywide coverage for the residents of Bedford County.

2. Implement the eleven (11) site wireless TVWS system as proposed in the study.

3. Build, occupy and maintain nine (9) new 195’ self-supportive communications towers. (Style and make to be determined.)

4. Co-locate on the existing Montvale Tower and the BCPS Water Tank at the New London Business Park.

5. Accept any technology that does not interfere from a radio frequency perspective on all nine (9) towers and charge a market rent for tower space.

6. Seek funding for fifteen (15) miles of fiber optic cables as “backhaul” from the tower sites.

7. Seek to fund with any Public or Private grants. Fund with $3.4 million in Capital.

8. Proceed with the Planning, Design and Construction of the new broadband system.

George N. Condyles, IV President & COO

7. Exhibits

Page

Exhibit 1. Strategic Decision………………………………………………………….. 85

Exhibit 2. Budget Details for an individual Tower cost…………………… 89

Exhibit 3. Schedule (CPM) …………………………………………………………….. 90

Exhibit 4. Strategic Plan for Commercial Telecommunications

Facilities January 1, 2012…………………………………………….112

Exhibit # 1- Strategic Decision Letter (2017)

Bedford County Broadband Authority 2017 Broadband Study “Strategic Decision”

September 1, 2017

Performed by

CONFIDENTAL PROPRIETERY

6260 Pine Slash Road Mechanicsville, Virginia 23116 (804) 559-6004 www.atlanticgroup.us.com

Technology & Network Architecture

This document is written to discuss the technology of what the Bedford’s “Last Mile” broadband service delivery will be with the Bedford County Broadband Authority (BCBA) and seek approval in the direction of a fiber/ wireless approach and a technology. Since the consultant has been studying the Bedford Broadband issue, there have been several developments that I believe we should explore and look into being the BCBA “solution”.

There are three (3) wireless technologies that we are leading in deployment for Bedford County. A goal is to provide success for all three technologies. All require a “fiber backbone” support network.

The technologies are:

1. FCC Licensed Land Mobile Radio Data….(Verizon, AT&T, US Cell, T-Mobile, Sprint @800 MHz, 1.9 GHz and 2.1 GHz)

2. FCC Un-licensed iWiSP……(B2X, SCS @ 900 MHz, 2.4 and 5.8 GHz Frequencies)

3. FCC Licensed TV White Space……(Microsoft/Adaptrum/MBC @ UHF 400 MHz frequencies, 11 site system all on Bedford County Owned properties and County Owned towers)

Upon many hours of study and research, it is my recommendation that BCBA pursue the TV White Space technology that is being offered by the Microsoft/Adaptrum/MBC team.

The reasons are:

1. The FCC Licensed Land Mobile Radio Data providers (AT&T etc.) will continue at their deployment of sites and capital regardless of any actions Bedford Broadband Authority will take. With the 2012 Bedford Wireless Communications Study and Master Plan, along with the 2015 revision of the BC Planning and Zoning Ordinances, the FCC LMR community will continue to deploy and enjoy success in their market.

The sited positions of the BCBA TVWS towers will provide co-location leasing revenue to BCBA.

2. The FCC Un-licensed iWiSP such as B2X, SCS etc. have many challenges for their networks. If you turn to the end of this document, you will see the existing 2017 coverage for “Bedford Fix Wireless” and it is possibly 15% of the county geographically. The public cannot wait for these networks to be planned and built out. There is a need for these networks, but time is of the essence and the public cannot wait. Most of the iWiSP providers are undercapitalized and under staffed and to cover the entire county frankly would just be prohibited in the near future.

3. The FCC Licensed TV White Space partnership between Microsoft (FCC Licensee), Adaptrum(equipment manufacturer), MBC (fiber optic/network provider) with the HUB Site determined to be at the CAER facility makes this selection is the most logical and practical for the citizens of Bedford.

Technical Reasons:

a. CAER Tower (120’ AGL) can accommodate various transmit/receive antennas, Microwave antennas for backbone technology, fiber optic service facility for network interface.

b. CAER Building is climate controlled technology for ground rise potential, structurally superior to a typical office or industrial building, room for expanse, modern-attractive, accessible.

c. TCWS frequencies are licensed by FCC vs. Un-licensed.

d. Effective Radiated Transmit Power levels are 10 to 20 times that of Un-licensed iWiSP frequencies.

e. TVWS equipment is of better quality and performance. It has a greater “survivability” for inclement weather

f. Does not require Line of Sight.

g. Has an “effective” transmit distance of 7 to 10 miles depending of topography and transmit power.

h. Requires fewer “points of transmit and receive.” (11 Tower sites required to be located on County Land with 2 in use ready for deployment. (Montvale and CAER. Construction of 9 tower sites.)

The consultant knew of this Beta Test in Halifax/Charlotte County School Systems. However the deployment of 1,000 student homes with this equipment for internet access using an Educational Portal answers the technical questions and network reliability thus far has provided excellent results and the time table for this system to be fully deployed could be within the next 1 to 3 years.

Bedford County needs to be ready with the necessary infrastructure to provide this “Last Mile” connection.

In summary, LMR carriers follow their internal corporate strategy and plans not seeking local input and need.

IWiSP are serving a need for a rural community but cannot expand quickly to meet the local demand if there are not enough subscribers and must have private equity funding to survive.

Recommendation:

The logical choice The Atlantic Group believes is where the Bedford Broadband Project should focus all efforts is the “partnership” with the TVWS team of Microsoft, Adaptrum and MBC.

The consultant believes that the Bedford Broadband Authority should meet as soon as possible so that this issue can be discussed and input can be made to advance in the Broadband Study and Grant Writing effort for the November 15, 2017 deadline for the Grant.

Any questions please come prepared to discuss.

With kindest regards,

George N. Condyles, IV President & COO

Exhibit #2 Budget Details for an individual Communications Tower

Exhibit #3 –Schedule (CPM)

Exhibit #4

Exhibit #5. Summary of Survey:

1. 97.4% of Survey residents have a cell phone, PDA or Tablet device they use daily. 2. 95.2% of residents access the internet at home, school or business daily. 3. 88.0 % of residents consider internet access “Necessity” for school, work or commerce. 4. 80.7% of residents say their internet service is poor to average. 5. 36.2% of residents only use a wireless device to access the internet. 6. 60.9% of residents would prefer a wireless system vs. a wire based system. 7. 45.9% of residents do not have “High Speed” internet at their homes. 8. 61.7% of students require high speed internet access at home for assignments 9. 65.4% of business require high speed internet 10. 13% of residents operate a home based business. 11. 44.3% of adults would consider having a home based business. 12. 84.8% of residents have high speed internet at their place of employment not at home.

Results from Questionnaire

Bedford Public Feedback

This survey was conducted on RUOnlineVA.com. This survey is the uniform survey that The Center for Innovative Technology uses for data collection across the State of Virginia.

The survey consisted of twenty (20) questions concerning the individual home and population of the geographic areas by voting districts. The demographics ages, locations, existing access and system usage were the areas of discussion.

There were 235 responses covering the entire county. WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SURVEY

Question #1

Which Voting District do you reside in? Response Response Answer Options Percent Count District 1 4.3% 10 District 2 11.1% 26 District 3 12.3% 29 District 4 8.9% 21 District 5 11.1% 26 District 6 5.5% 13 District 7 11.1% 26 Unsure 35.7% 84 answered question 235 skipped question 0

Question #2

What age range do you fit into?

Response Response Answer Options Percent Count

less than 18 0.9% 2 18-24 year olds 3.0% 7 25-29 year olds 8.1% 19 30-36 year olds 11.1% 26 37-45 year olds 20.0% 47 46-52 year olds 19.6% 46 53-65 year olds 28.1% 66 66 and older 9.4% 22 answered question 235 skipped question 0

Question #3

Do you own a cellular phone, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or laptop computer? *a PDA is a handheld device that combines computing, telephone, Internet and networking features (i.e. a Blackberry, iPhone, etc.) Response Response Answer Options Percent Count

Yes 97.4% 226 No 2.6% 6 answered question 232 skipped question 3

Question #4

On average, how often do you make or receive calls, e-mails and access the internet per week on your cellular phone, PDA or laptop computer?

Response Response Answer Options Percent Count

0 0.4% 1 1 1.7% 4 2 0.0% 0 3 0.9% 2 4 0.9% 2 5 0.9% 2 10 4.7% 11 15 7.7% 18 25+ 82.8% 193 answered question 233 skipped question 2

Question #5

Do you consider your cellular phone, PDA or laptop computer more of a convenience or a necessity?

Response Response Answer Options Percent Count

Convenience 12.0% 28 Necessity 88.0% 205 No opinion 0.0% 0 N/A 0.0% 0 answered question 233 skipped question 2

Question #6

If you own a cellular phone, PDA or laptop computer, how would you rate the quality of your cellular service (coverage) where you live?

Response Response Answer Options Percent Count

No coverage 2.1% 5 Poor 37.8% 88 Average 40.8% 95 Above Average 14.6% 34 Excellent 4.7% 11 answered question 233 skipped question 2

Question #7

Do you have "High Speed" internet where you live?

Response Response Answer Options Percent Count Yes 54.1% 124 No 45.9% 105 answered question 229 skipped question 6

Question #8

Does your school or your child's school require internet access at home?

Response Response Answer Options Percent Count

No 6.5% 15 Yes 61.7% 73 N/A 31.7% 142 answered question 230 skipped question 5

Question #9

Have you considered working or running a business from your residence?

Response Response Answer Options Percent Count

No 42.6% 98 Yes 44.3% 102 Currently doing it 13.0% 30 answered question 230 skipped question 5

Question #10

Do you have "High Speed" internet where you work?

Response Response Answer Options Percent Count

Yes 84.8% 184 No 15.2% 33 answered question 217 skipped question 18

Question #11

Does your work or business require internet access at home?

Response Response Answer Options Percent Count

Yes 65.4% 104 No 17.1% 85 N/A 17.5% 40 answered question 229 skipped question 6

Question #12

I use the internet mostly for:

Response Response Answer Options Percent Count

Personal use 59.9% 136 Business use 27.3% 62 Educational use 6.6% 15 Emergencies 0.0% 0 Other (Please specify) 5.3% 12 N/A 0.9% 2 Please specify 22 answered question 227 skipped question 8

Question #13

Would you prefer a "wireless" internet service to a "wired" internet service?

Response Response Answer Options Percent Count

Yes 60.9% 140 No 10.4% 24 Possibly 21.7% 50 No opinion 7.0% 16 answered question 230 skipped question 5

Question #14

Have you cancelled your land line phone and just operate on a cellular phone?

Response Response Answer Options Percent Count

Yes 36.2% 83 No 63.8% 146 answered question 229 skipped question 6

Question #15

I use my cellular phone mostly for:

Response Response Answer Options Percent Count

Personal use 64.4% 145 Business use 26.2% 59 Emergencies 3.1% 7 Other (please specify) 4.9% 11 N/A 1.3% 3 Please specify 20 answered question 225 skipped question 10

Question #16

Do you notice cellular towers?

Response Response Answer Options Percent Count

Yes 60.0% 138 No 40.0% 92 answered question 230 skipped question 5

Question #17

If you notice cellular towers, do you find them to be unsightly?

Response Response Answer Options Percent Count

Yes 11.8% 27 No 72.5% 166 N/A 15.7% 36 answered question 229 skipped question 6

Question #18

If allowing taller cellular towers meant fewer towers would be needed, would you be in favor of this approach?

Response Response Answer Options Percent Count

Yes 75.5% 173 No 7.9% 18 Depends (Please explain) 10.0% 23 No opinion 6.6% 15 Please explain 25 answered question 229 skipped question 6

Question #19

What should be the maximum allowable height for a cellular tower?

Response Response Answer Options Percent Count

60 feet 1.8% 4 80 feet (current policy) 6.2% 14 100 feet 8.8% 20 150 feet 16.3% 37 199 feet 3.1% 7 200+ feet 26.0% 59 Other (please specify) 7.0% 16 No opinion 30.8% 70 Other (please specify) 26 answered question 227 skipped question 8

Question #20

Do you have any other ideas on how we can improve the County Wireless Plan or any other general comments?

Answer Options Response Count

106 answered question 106 skipped question 129

Exhibit #5

Strategic Plan for Commercial Wireless Telecommunications Facilities August 21, 2012

Exhibit # 6 – Adaptrum TVWS Solution

Exhibit 7: Adaptrum BETA Test Quotation