[RTC List] The fiber-optic cable frenzy

[Dwight Winegar]

Hello Folks.

There were a few things I almost said, while glimpsing the comments  
the past few days, but like many of you, I was cramming for time.   
Having now travelled south to Silicon Valley where I'll be at a  
training session here for this next week, I drove by the problematic  
area of US 101.  Greg, you stated 4 times, if one was in Arcata, or  
north of Eureka, I have counted 5 times.

What I have observed several times going south, and now taken even  
more exceptional notice of, is hillside slippage, and signed "buried  
cable" with what appears to be survey markings both before and after  
the work area.  Seeing just where the red painted darts are, it would  
appear that variation from the signage is as much as 10 feet  
difference.  My thought on observing all of this, and the obvious  
propensity for blue goo and sandstone slides-slipouts in our region  
would be creating some new rules for the contractor(s).

If this sort of thing happened in any of our metropolitan areas of  
the state the contractors would be slapped some heavy fines by  
Caltrans; - enough to be an incentive to be proactive.  You would  
think after the first cut in this same area somebody would have  
learned something.  So I would further propose not only penalties but  
a proactive idea go with that.  What I have in mind is that the  
contractor be recommended if not "required" to post bypass routing  
and switching, with help from fiber-optic consultants.  While that  
might also sound expensive, the fines imposed for the negligence  
(especially after it happening the first time) should be equitably  
considered in conjunction with the economic setback to the region  
from such an occurrence.  Additionally, since a bypass routing of  
cabling and switching would only be for the duration of the project,  
those assets could also be taken down and carried to other such  
projects.

While that's not a substitute for a redundant fiber project, and  
slides or slip-outs are a reality of the regions geology, this should  
be something to consider.   Also one other comment about the  
redundancy...   It's my understanding that one of the reasons to not  
run "north" along the coast was because of the time, expense and red- 
tape of such things as the Coastal Commission.  However, one should  
note, if they have not yet heard, - Charter Cable will expand its  
fiber optic line from the north beyond Crescent City, now planned for  
Klamath.  Why not reconsider a redundant "coastal link" with Oregon  
via the ridge line (e.g. Bald Hills Road) to Klamath rather than  
strictly thinking US 101 (north of Trinidad)?

Meanwhile, there is a great YouTube parody online of "The Day the  
Internet Goes Down!"   As Jay Leno would have said "Tuesday the  
Internet went out in Eureka, uh, well, we have footage, let's take a  
look..."
>   The internet is out! The office goes crazy!
> When you work as a broadband producer, you have to be ready for  
> this...
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIxvpjREwyI

This RTC List should enjoy this one after the threads posted here the  
last few days ;-)

Regards,
Dwight


------------------------
"Think Different; Work Creative"
Angels Knoll Enterprises
Dwight Winegar, ACN, AABA, ACHDS
Apple Consulting for SOHO, Consumers, Seniors, and Education
Arcata, CA to Brookings, OR
dwightw at mac.com  | 707-496-6324 Mobile
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