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PCCA Journal|3

rd

Quarter 2015

32

Telecom News

Continued from page 31

materials to communicate this information to citizens. The

signers feel strongly that reliable, understandable information

is critical for citizens and governments alike as they seek to

develop next-generation broadband Internet.

The GAO report found that current FCC requirements on

network performance do not obligate providers to use stan-

dard measurements, while existing FCC reports on network

performance are written in technical language that limits

their usefulness to consumers. The officials signing onto

the letter are members of Next Century Cities, a city-to-city

initiative founded to support communities and their elected

leaders as they seek to ensure that all have access to fast, af-

fordable, and reliable Internet.

In support of this effort to provide clarity and transpar-

ency in the provision of broadband services, 35 Next Century

Cities member communities wrote, “Efforts to develop this

core infrastructure are impeded when our citizens are unable

to accurately gauge the quality and speed of their Internet....

As broadband Internet becomes increasingly critical to the

well-being of towns and cities across the country, being able

to reliably measure and compare network performance will

help to ensure that we, as elected leaders, are delivering the

essential infrastructure our communities need.”

Zayo Announces New

Long Haul Dark Fiber Route

Z

ayo Group Holdings, Inc., a

global provider of bandwidth

infrastructure services, an-

nounced plans in June to

extend its long haul dark fiber network

between Atlanta, Ga., and Washington,

D.C. The network expansion will add

more than 800 route miles to Zayo’s

owned long haul network, which spans

more than 19,000 route miles. Zayo will

break ground beginning the third quarter

of this year and expects to complete the

route in the fourth calendar of 2017.

Through this new route, Zayo will be

able to further support high bandwidth

demands for customers in the southeast

extending into the northeast. The long

haul fiber expansion will provide direct

access to carrier hotels and data centers

across six key markets, including Atlanta,

Charlotte, N.C., Raleigh, N.C., Richmond,

Va., Ashburn, Va., and Washington, D.C.

Zayo will offer its full product suite of

dark fiber, wavelengths, Ethernet, and IP

services across this route.

“This expansion complements our

current fiber infrastructure and meets

the growing requirement for bandwidth

in these fast-growing markets,” said

Matt Erickson, president and COO of

Zayo’s physical infrastructure segment.

“Our long haul dark fiber network will

provide customers with dedicated, se-

cure, and virtually unlimited bandwidth,

which they can ‘light up’ as they grow

and scale.”

Since October 2013, Zayo has expanded

its long haul dark fiber network by 5,000

route miles. Last month, Zayo announced

the construction of a new long haul dark

fiber route from Phoenix, Ariz., to Dallas,

Tex. This route will add more than 1,200

route miles to Zayo’s long haul network

and is expected to be completed in the

fourth quarter of 2016.

FCC Chairman Seeks Comment on Making

Broadband Affordable for Low-Income Households

O

n May 28, FCC Chairman

Tom Wheeler shared with

his fellow commissioners

a set of comprehensive

proposals to restructure and modern-

ize the FCC’s Lifeline program so that

it can efficiently and effectively help

low-income consumers afford access to

essential communications services in

the 21st Century, including broadband.

The proposals seek comment on how to

modernize Lifeline while further com-

batting waste and better targeting the

program to those who need it most.

Congress directed the FCC to ensure

that all Americans, including low-income

consumers, have access to advanced

telecommunications and information

services. Since 1985, Lifeline has helped

make phone service affordable for low-

income Americans. But to continue to

serve its statutory purpose, Lifeline must

evolve to meet today’s most pressing

communications needs, including access