District Connecting with City and County
to Build Fiber Network
The City of Cedar Rapids Public Works Department and Information
Technology Department are working cooperatively with Linn County and the
District to build a joint fiber optic communication network (JCN). The
network will be capable of supporting the first responder, public
safety, governmental and educational missions of the City, County, and
the school district.
The collaborative effort will deploy a metro network that costs less to
build and operate than either an independently deployed network or the
purchase of comparable services from a "traditional" provider, according
to Ron Griffith, City Project Engineer II.
"It will provide the necessary infrastructure to enhance each entity's
ability to offer existing services at a reduced cost to the public,
create opportunities for further collaboration and cost savings, and
allow for future needs," noted Mike Goldberg, Linn County Administrative
Services Director. "The JCN fiber optic network will connect all City
buildings, traffic signals, County buildings, and District buildings."
Phase I of the project, which has already been completed, installed
fiber to two District buildings (Educational Service Center and Taylor
Elementary School), five City buildings (City Hall, Police, Public
Works, Transit Garage and Central Fire), five County buildings (Sheriff,
Courthouse, Jail, Administration Office, and Veterans Affairs), and 14
traffic signals. The fiber network is currently in use and is operating
at gigabit network speeds, which are over 500 times faster than what was
previously available.
An agreement to continue with Phase II of the project has now been
approved. Phase II will complete the build out from Phase I locations to
39 District buildings, 40 City buildings, 27 County buildings, and 205
traffic signals. The project is scheduled to be completed in the year
2012.
"Upon completion of this multi-year project, all city, county, and
school facilities will be connected to a high speed fiber optic
network," added Lori Bruzek, District Technology Manager.
"Additionally, this fiber network will foster efficiencies with
additional intergovernmental sharing."