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KC&A, was selected in late 2009 to assist the CCJPA in asking the wireless industry (includes WiFi, WiMAX, Satellite/Cell, mesh and other technologies) to install and maintain a broadband wireless system for CCJPA operational uses and applications, as well as use by its riders and other customers. A previous Request for Information (RFI), also developed with the assistance of KC&A, was issued in 2006. It elicited 11 proposals from a diverse group of vendors and wireless application providers—an excellent response from the industry. The next step was a proof of concept (POC) test that occurred in 2007. Based on the findings from the tests, KC&A was then selected to provide consulting assistance to the CCJPA in drafting an RFP, coordinating activities with other stakeholders (e.g., the Union Pacific Railroad owns most of the 171 mile CCJPA rights-of-way; Amtrak owns the stations; Caltrans owns most of the rolling stock) and ensuring maximum vendor response. Some of the services expected to be specified include:
The timeline for the wireless project envisions issuance of an RFP in the first quarter of 2010, selection of a winning proposer in mid-year and final award of a contract in the 4th quarter. Lastly, KC&A and the CCJPA believe the competitive bid process can be successfully emulated by transit and commuter rail agencies throughout the country.
During the last 10 years, KC&A has increasingly been tasked to determine the fair market value (“FMV”) of large and medium sized agencies’ dedicated rights-of-way (“ROW”) for occupancies that run along, over and under that ROW. Too many transit agencies have neglected this area of potential revenue. Too many occupants have not bothered to inform the agencies that they are in the ROW. Too many licenses, leases and easements for fiber optic conduit, electrical and cable television cabling and all types of pipelines (hazardous and otherwise) have not been updated in years, if not decades. KC&A develops evaluations using Google Earth. We do the needed federal and state regulatory research to ensure that litigation does not ensue from new rates. And finally, we provide our clients with a full set of rates, as well as other recommendations on how to develop and maintain their programs. Recent clients include: LACMTA, New York MTA (for New York Transit, Metro North Rail Road and the Long Island Railroad), Sacramento RT and TriMet (twice).
ONE Burbank (2006-2010) Burbank Water & Power (BWP) has been at the forefront of fiber optic network development since the early 1990’s. This municipal electric installed a large system to monitor its electrical transmission system in 1994. Excess capacity on that system, in this case spare dark fiber optic strands of fiber, was marketed to the “Big 3 Studios” (Disney, Warner Brothers and NBC/Universal) that are headquartered in the city. That dark fiber leasing program now nets the city more than $1 million a year. KC&A has been actively involved in the subsequent efforts of BWP to enlarge, expand and further develop this network, now known as ONE Burbank for the last five years. In 2005, KC&A assisted BWP in developing an operating arrangement with Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP). This Coordinate Agreement laid out the terms and conditions for interconnecting the two municipal electric’s dark fiber networks together. The major objective of the pact is to allow seamless communications, using state-of –the-art network technologies and applications, between the two service areas for major customers; in particular the “Big 3”, as well as the hundreds of productions houses that serve them. In 2008, KC&A was tasked by BWP to begin looking at wireless services and applications (e.g., wireless meter reading and demand control) that could operate over towers and antennas connected to the existing BWP fiber optic network. Interviews with the three major studios were conducted to determine their level of interest (extremely high). The Providence St. Joseph’s Medical Facility (largest in Southern California) was also queried as to their interest in interconnectivity and hospital industry-specific applications (again, extremely high interest levels). In 2009, KC&A was hired to work with other consultants to provide assistance in developing ONE Burbank, the comprehensive fiber and wireless network that will provide service and applications to the above-noted industries and specific clients. That effort will be ongoing through 2010 and beyond.
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