East Palo Alto Neighborhood Innovation Zone
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| East Palo Alto Neighborhood Innovation Zone | |
|---|---|
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 East Palo Alto is centered on the community | |
| Team Organizations | Joint Venture Silicon Valley; Comodo CA; NextLevel Networks; American Tower Corp. |
| Team Leaders | Mohammad Shakouri |
| Participating Municipalities | County of San Mateo CA |
| Status | Launched |
| Document | None |
Description
- PPP demonstration project leveraging fiber optic, smart poles and wireless technologies (CBRS, Wi-Fiber, TIP Open Network, etc.) for connecting underserved neighborhoods.
- Coalition between non-profits, municipals, and corporations to improve broadband for public good.
- Focus on connecting community centers, service organizations, and local government facilities.
Challenges
- Incumbent utilities may see this project as overbuild.
- City government is concerned about broadband creating gentrification, changing neighborhood character.
Solutions
- Position project as a wireless technology demonstrator.
- Focus on existing community centers, service organizations. Position the project as supportive, not disruptive.
Major Requirements
- Phase 1:
- Identify target community centers and service organization locations.
- Meet with East Palo Alto city leaders to secure buy-in, rights-of-way, permitting, etc..
- Secure spaces in county government IT center for equip.
- Secure commitments from corporate partners; identify funding sources and financial plans.
- Phase 2:
- Construction of fiber path through city.
- Construction of wireless nodes along fiber path.
- Construction of wireless nodes at user locations.
Performance Targets
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | Measurement Methods |
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Standards, Replicability, Scalability, and Sustainability
- Project uses COTS technologies, replicable by other communities.
- Scalability is limited by fiber capacity and available RF spectrum – additional fiber and RF channel planning to create scalability.
- Project is sustainable via a shared Multi-Use Converged Infrastructure for the deployment of free public Wi-Fi, Private LTE, enhanced county operational networks, including the delivery of cellular and other third party services.
Cybersecurity and Privacy
- Project will leverage NIST cybersecurity framework and GCTC cybersecurity advisory committee resources.
- The solution also takes away the risk of any unknown or unwanted devices getting onto a community network because of the ability to use PKI to perform mutual authentication of an IoT device to the correct corresponding community IoT network.
Impacts
- East Palo Alto CA is an economically-challenged area with a high population of residents at or below poverty. Project will allow community groups and service organizations to better serve residents and reallocate funds currently committed for broadband service.
Demonstration/Deployment
- Subject to timing, project will be able to report on Phase 1 completion and progress on Phase 2 work.
- Municipal leaders may be able to attend.