Glossary

Building-to-Street Conduit : Typically, buried plastic pipe that creates a pathway (or tube) for communications fiber (or other wiring) to be installed between a building and other fiber located in a nearby street.

Broadband Fiber: Fiber optic wiring used to transport digital communications information. Broadband generally refers to the ability to transport multiple video, voice, e-mail, Internet, and other data signals using the same physical line.

Commercial Fiber : Broadband fiber and networks owned or operated by for-profit businesses.

Conduit Capacity : Spare room within conduit to place fiber.

Conduit Fiber Matrix : A contiguous network of non-exclusive conduits that link individual buildings or properties to a common point, also known as a meet-me-point. Multiple communications networks can extend their networks to the meet-me-point, and then use the conduit fiber matrix to reach the individual properties (and buildings if there is building-to-street conduit available).

Data Center : A room or building used for housing computer networking equipment. Reliability and information security are key features of a data center. A data center typically requires a significant amount of electrical power, very good air conditioning to keep the computer networking equipment from overheating, back-up power sufficient to maintain power for multiple days, sophisticated fire suppression systems, network operations monitoring systems, and high levels of security to control access. Access is available 24x365, either remotely or in person.

FiberNet: The County’s fiber optic communications network. FiberNet contains over 500 miles of fiber and reaches over 600 County government, library, fire and police station, public school, public housing, and arts locations.

Meet-Me-Point: A common point where communications networks can connect to each other or to other fiber. When fiber is connected, the glass strands are perfectly spliced together to allow light to pass without disruption between different fibers. Thus, a meet-me-point typically has room for fibers to be spliced together, either in some type of above- or underground locked cabinet, or in a building, such as a data center.

Shared Cost Infrastructure: Fiber, conduit or other network equipment for which multiple entities share the use of, and cost to construct or operate.

Wireless Access Point (AP) Equipment : Antennas to which electrical power is supplied and a wireline connection to a broadband network is provided. These wireless APs enable broadband from the wireline network to be accessible using wireless devices, commonly known as WiFi.