D.C. Tackles Digital Divide With Ultra-Fast Network

12.12.2011_dccan.png As we know all too well, the District is a divided city. Those divisions exist even in the world of bits and bytes, unfortunately, with access to broadband services reaching 97 percent in Ward 3 while barely hitting the 40 percent mark in some communities east of the Anacostia River.

Last week, the city started trying to do something about that.

At his bi-weekly press conference, Mayor Vince Gray announced the completion of the first part of what will eventually be a citywide ultra-fast broadband network that will bring access to more people at lower costs. (Just how fast is the new fiber-optic network? It's 100 gigabit-per-second fast, or roughly 10 times faster than what you might get with your normal internet provider.)

Funded by a $17 million federal grant, city officials hope that the 170-mile network known as DC-CAN will increase internet use in under-served communities and bring down costs for all District residents.

It aims to do so in two ways. First off, the District identified 250 community anchor institutions that will get heavily discounted high-speed internet. So far, 24 are operational; service costs $470 a month for 10 megabits of dedicated speed. (For you techies, if that seems expensive compared to what Comcast offers, it is. City officials argue that the service is more like a T1 connection.) Those organizations can then provide internet to their customers or set up open wireless networks.

Second, the network provides a middle mile backbone for companies like Comcast and Verizon to piggy-back off of -- basically, the city laid down the wires, and the companies connect them to our houses. In theory, that will mean lower costs for everyone.

While only the first segment of the network is currently online -- 36 miles of cable in wards 7 and 8 -- the entire District should be wired by 2013.

There have been some concerns raised about the network, though. Some of the community anchor organizations aren't particularly big, and the $470 a month they'd pay for 10 megabits of access is still beyond what they can afford. Moreover, some activists who have worked on bridging the digital divide wonder why the District can't just allow community groups and neighborhoods to establish open Wi-Fi networks on the existing DC-NET network. (An effort was made to do so in Bloomingdale last year.) Finally, there's some skepticism that any of the major internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon will actually provide cheaper service.

Regardless, Gray and other city officials see huge advantages to the new network, ranging from personal internet connections to increased opportunities for local businesses, both big and small.

“With this 100G connection, we are making history by providing state-of-the-art network capacity that will help create jobs and grow the District’s economy well into the 21st century. DC-CAN will help pave the way for greater broadband adoption across the District of Columbia, and I’m proud that we will be the first city in the United States to make such a forward-thinking investment in crucial technology infrastructure," Gray said in a statement.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@dcist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Martin Austermuhle in News on December 12, 2011 2:35 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

innwdc

Wow, who chose that font? Ms. PacMan?

Will

DC-NET appears to be somewhat a mess. Sorry guys, I love what you are trying to do with promoting open access and this fiber network is a good idea.

[rant]

1. Peering: For an open network, where the heck is the peering policy for your transit service? In fact, I can't even find a peering contact listed anywhere. Not on peeringdb.com or a page on OCTO listing peering policy and contacts.

They should at least have a presence at one of the area IXs (Any2, Equinix). I'd take it a step further and say that they should be running an IX for local providers or anyone within the district.

2. IPv6: Their literature throws around that their network can run IPv6 but it's not running it. In fact, they don't even have it to their core routers.

AS33084, DC-NET is only advertising:
164.82.1.0/24
164.82.2.0/24
164.82.3.0/24
164.82.4.0/22
164.82.8.0/22
164.82.12.0/22
164.82.16.0/22
166.91.0.0/16

See any v6 there? Nope. Assume vendors have bugs (because they always do), you have to train staff, get apps ready, etc. How long will it actually take to get v6 working on a network. They're way behind the curve.

I really wish someone in the media (maybe Martin ;-) ) would ask OCTO about their IPv6 plans. The fact they haven't issued a press release means there are none.

3. DC WiFi.

Useless for the most part. The very first crime I have seen committed is they don't actually route to the full internet.

There is this wonderful space called RFC 1918 space. It consists of IPv4 addresses that are reserved for private use. It consist of:

10.0.0.0/8
172.16.0.0/12
192.168.0.0/16

Of course DC-NET has their wireless controller set to use 1.0.0.0/8. I get that this might have been been default years ago as no one was globally using that address space. Of course now they are globally routable. There are hosts on 1.0.0.0/8 that I cannot reach on DC Public WiFi.

1.0.0.0/8 != 10.0.0.0/8 so please stop breaking the Internet.

Your also only allowing port 80 and 443. WTF is up with that?

And coverage is pretty much limited to in-door with the exception of the mall which is still pretty shoddy. Directional antennas are great but how many have directional ones to TX back.

Would much rather see a mesh network where residents and businesses could add nodes. Eg. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1793...

[/rant]

Nice effort though.

Eckingtonite

Bits set me up!

Guest

If the poor folk want to use the Intertubes, they should go to a public library.

InfiniteShibumi

What kind of cretin remark is that? If you went to the libraries, you'd find them packed with people. More people than computers. Cues of people just waiting to get access for access. Oh, and a lot of noise.

Libraries are a "happening place" these days...

InfiniteShibumi

*queues*

Guest

Double or treble the number of computers at libraries instead of running high-bandwidth cable. There is a need for access,but it doesn't need to run into everyone's home unless they can afford it. People who earn money can buy a car, (clothes, TV, etc.) I don't expect the government to provide the same for those who can't.

InfiniteShibumi

The city and local communities have been increasing the number of computers at libraries. This is no doubt one of the reasons libraries need more space and the tables and chairs to contain them.

As for affordability, if you're speaking east of the river -- where unemployment is above 30% -- that's a nonstarter. Kids still need to be able to do their homework, much of which requires computer work. (Need I mention scholarship applications are filed online?)

And adults still need to be able to research job opportunities and respond to them accordingly online. Many (if not most) prospective employers do not permit in-person or phone interviews as the first line of contact.

Re cars, you will find most people again in this area of the city do not possess them. And it's not like they're walking around in expensive clothing when just taking the bus to a supermarket is an exercise in and of itself. You're probably right on the TVs, though. Every family has one. Some probably think they should content themselves with radios.

You're probably right though, the government shouldn't provide ALL the basics for its most important resource (i.e., its people). But it should help provide ample assistance where possible to those who might ultimately contribute to the community and the city and the nation.

BombaySplashVermouth

At least MLK will be open.

BombaySplashVermouth

So this means they are going to give up on the telegraph for communications to the far reaches of the District?

Qwerkie

They should have budgeted in laptops to hand out. If a person can't afford internet service, what makes Gray think that person can afford a computer?

wizzyliz

Laptops? Do you hate the poor that much? Everyone wants an iPad.

Guest

If they need an iPad or laptop they should steal one.

BombaySplashVermouth

And an aircard just to be able to use that thing called "internet".

Guest

I didn't see anything about subsidized rates for people who get up every morning, go to work, pay their taxes, etc.?

BrandName

Nope... only if you are on public assistance and in public housing. Those stolen iPhones need a decent wi-fi network, biatches.

Guest

I hope the murders go down in the District as people turn from violent crime to computer crime. Which "begs" the question; How do you know a Nigerian Scam E-Mail came from some place in the District? The answer is: There are more grammar and spelling errors than an E-Mail sent from Nigeria.

mirrorballdc

Wasn't Verizon supposed to roll out their FiOS in DC anyway? WTF do they need DC-subsidized lines for?

Will

They don't. Verizon won't actually use this network because running their own is cheaper.

However, the wireless carriers are going to love it.

cheesenpeas

"Second, the network provides a middle mile backbone for companies like Comcast and Verizon to piggy-back off of"

For some reason, I have a feeling that this piggy-backing will be similar to the piggy-backing that took place in Deliverance.

Squeal like a pig, DC, while the telecoms screw you and your only choice is which one gets to do the screwing. I love the idea of letting local companies sell access, and I hope that it actually happens, but I have a feeling that they'll only be available in small areas, and probably won't last very long.

monkeyrotica

As we know all too well, the District is a divided city.

You know, Martin, something happened a long time ago in DC and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the 2400 baud modems. You know, Napoleon the third, or whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, 'We will serve you if you will get us free from screeching modems.' True story. And so, the devil said, 'Okay it's a deal.'

And they kicked AOL out. You know, the folks who live downtown are revolting and got themselves free. But ever since they have been cursed by one thing after the other--wifi leeching hobos, Team Thomas, arsenic in Spring Valley, Spike Mendelsohn, Occupy DC barnraisings. That island of CaBi is one island. It is cut down the middle with a bike lane. On the one side is CoHi, on the other is FloRhIde. CoHi is prosperous, healthy, full of kite stores and a vibrant brand of urbanism, etc. FloRhIde is filled with back alley sex-for-crack exchanges. Same island. They need to have and we need to pray for them a great turning to God and out of this tragedy I'm optimistic something good may come.

DCTransplant

I miss those screeching modems.

CJ_Scudworth

And CompuServe, right, grandpa?

DCTransplant

you don't know what you're missing out on until you've had to deal with CompuServe, AOL and NetZero with a 14.4k modem before we got all super high tech with them 56k modems!. Ahhh, good times

Guest

14.4? Ha, try a 300 baud!

monkeyrotica

We had one of those at my first job. People went ape$h!t when the installed the 2400 baud modem that was the size of a phonebook and didn't have to wait overnight to upload a single file.

mensan98th

I can still conjure the sound. That should go on the list of "things you'll never hear again."

Qwerkie

You can get almost the same sound from a fax machine. I smile a little when I hear it at work.

wizzyliz

I'm naming my next cat Modem.

mensan98th

You wouldn't have to do that if you'd get rid of the rocking chairs.

Ollie Pooeater

"You've got (ASCII) Porn" -TM

DCTransplant

and you had to download them through you local BBS. but the good porn was always on a BBS from a different area code, so you'd end up paying through the nose for long-distance charges just to get your ASCII porn!

monkeyrotica

Back then, the ASCII porn women were built like REAL ASCII porn women. Not like some painfully airbrushed malnourished 12-year-old boy with a pair of fake boobs bolted on. I hate America.

copperreddc

Are you idiots? 10 Megabit/sec is not a a T1. A T1 is 1.5 Megabits/second. The internet: the way to look shit up so you don't sound like a complete nutter when writing articles.

It's 100 gigabit-per-second fast, or roughly 10 times faster than what you might get with your normal internet provider.

Math fail. Do you seriously believe anyone in DC is on a 10Gb/sec link? I can confirm without a doubt that you're not getting that from Comcast or Verizon. I realize you took it right from the news release but there's no way that passes the smell test even of your average hobo at the library. You could say that ISPs might be on a 10Gb/s connection, but that seems doubtful.

Comcast can lie all it likes, and I know most consumers are idiots but they don't provide reliable 10Mb/s no matter what they claim, at least not in DC. Open wireless network btw are an incredibly stupid idea, unless you're a fan of pilfering PII and other thrilling data.

IF the city uses it as a link to suppliers who subsequently supply the end users, then you could argue it is faster than what the ISPs can currently access, though you're still going to run into a number of not so immovable bottlenecks.

Will

"You could say that ISPs might be on a 10Gb/s connection, but that seems doubtful."

ISPs are on 10Gb/sec links. After you do a 2 gig port channel the cost per port is such that a 10Gb interface just makes more sense.

In fact every Verizon CO running FiOS has multiple 10gig interfaces. GPON runs at 1.244 Gbit/s and you’ll have several different networks terminating into a CO. Then you have to have redundant paths between CO’s if there is a failure of fiber cut.

Abovenet, Cogent, and RCN Metro, and XO all sell 10G MetroE service downtown to their data centers as well as to 1275 K Street which has many 10G interfaces.

Eg. Abovenet’s (you can actually get faster than 10G) http://www.above.net/maps/docs...

copperreddc

Just one thing: no Fios in DC.

Will

DC has fios. See the construction locations for areas served.

http://www22.verizon.com/about...

Will

Do not work for them.

MDUs are an issue but not because they won't have access. Building owners often strike exclusive deals with a single provider, usually Comcast for TV and Internet.

The only reason they had to include copper plants was due to the fact phone service is a utility. Internet, not so much (legally speaking).

If you look at where FiOS has been deployed, it has been mainly in areas with above ground infrastructure. It is only in the last 6 months that've you have seen their contractors doing underground installations.

copperreddc

And if you call them they will promptly say they don't offer it wherever you live.

Guye Jern

That chart shows the white people bias in fiber optics installation

copperreddc

Well of course.

Originally they were saying wards 7 and 8 would get fios first because the build out was ready there and already integrated into PG. This was 3 years ago.

Will

I know three people with it. If it's not in your neighborhood it will be there soon.

They only have two years left to complete their build-out.

copperreddc

"If it's not in your neighborhood, it will be soon"

I want to believe you but that is verbatim what VZ tells people. Do you work for them?

Now given the complaints in the burbs about all the digging up of yards, I have to wonder about the need to replace all the copper coming up to the house. Seems like that is not going to happen for apt/condo buildings.

DCTransplant

give the guy a break! the subject matter doesn't involve weed, bicycles or metro!

copperreddc

Fine, fine.

wizzyliz

But you'd need a nuclear reaction to generate 1.21 Gigawatts/second!

CJ_Scudworth

It's pronounced jiggawatts.

PedanticMFr

deleted

ms_jlynn

jigga what? jigga who?

DCTransplant

don't get jiggy with it!

mirrorballdc

That's a lot of porn.

BombaySplashVermouth

It is best seen at full speed than all scrambled with missing pixels.

Pope Lando

NO FASTER INTERNET PORN DISTRIBUTION IN WARD 8!

Ollie Pooeater

Geez. That's a huge price to pay for organizations that are usually scrambling to pay basic utility bills. I hope there is a market for this and it doesn't turn into higher profit margins for VZ and CC.