1 Implementation Issues Presented by Stephen Kankus, NYSERNet Quilt Regional Optical Networking Workshop June 22, 2004

2 Custom build. Multiple strands spanning Manhattan. Recently expanded into the Bronx. Designed to reduce lateral costs. Diversely routed fiber loops. Diverse colocation facilities. Seven participating institutions, to-date. Twenty-one connected sites (sans colocation facilities.) A remotely managed project. Brief Background on NYC Dark Fiber Project Implementation Issues

3 Primary colocation facility complete – XYZ ring complete – First customer loop (AMNH) accepted – Last phase of backbone fiber placement complete – Last (phase one) customer loop accepted – * Expansion into Bronx completed – * Project Milestones * Anticipated, of course. Implementation Issues

4 Consultants. Customer Collateral Materials. Operational Development. Soup-to-Nuts Approach. Dedicated Project Teams. Project Planning. Remote Project Management. Communications. Vendor Management & Relationship. Product Development. Web Site. What Worked – In No Particular Order Implementation Issues

5 If it didn’t work, we fixed it. Consultants, ultimately. Customer qualification. Stakeholder management, initially. MOU’s and LOI’s. What Didn’t Work – Qualified & Not Absolute. Implementation Issues

6 Qualify participants. Use consultants judiciously. Identify core group - design and build for them. Get contracts with participants. Begin developing staff early. Don’t underestimate the LOE. Don’t underestimate the legal. Key Lessons Learned Implementation Issues

7 Stephen Kankus Director of Operations NYSERNet, Inc. 100 Elwood Davis Rd. Syracuse, New York x5234