Fiber Near Futures
2013/09/01 3 Comments
San Francisco Fiber Internet Map
last updated: 2013-09-01
A map of recently permitted infrastructure improvements in San Francisco that may point to enhanced networking capabilities, along with current service or pilot project areas. Click on the map above to move to google maps, and then click on the individual layers to see current permits for Sonic.net and for the ATT’s Uverse pilot.
Data Sources
1. SF DPW/Surface Mounted Facilities, Active Permit Map
2. SF DPW Surface Mounted Facilities Permits
3. Search for the following vendors
- SBC – Pacific Bell Engineering aka ATT, for uverse build out
- Sonic FTTH (Fiber to the Home) network. Pilot area is around 19th/Lawton.
- Verizon
- Comcast
- Paxio
- Webpass
- fastmetrics
Methodology
Using a combination of the above public data sources, and perhaps selective manual use of the FIOS/uverse/(input vendor here) web app, metro San Francisco is able to be data-mapped for service.
Vendor Notes
Some notes on ATT’s Infrastructure Improvement Plan.
All evidence points to the sunset district as the earliest-adopter neighborhood for ATT’s Uverse build-out. Specifically, the outer sunset from 45th to about 15th, centered on Kirkham should be active by now. Permits have been approved as per the map above for decent coverage of the sunset district. As of summer, 2013, permits are in-process for much of the inner mission, mission, bernal heights, and sunnyside.
Notice for permits for the new Uverse cabinets are placed on utility poles by proposed locations, with residents given ample time to comment.
The speed of the newer, post-buildout uverse service is unknown. The most useful data points would be a selection along Kirkham, as these seemed to be the first upgrades to be completed.
Speeds along Mission Street in the core business district of the Mission District, ie Mission Street between 16th and 24th street are currently max 12Mbps/line. For sonic.net bonded, that is doubled to max 24Mbps.
After the infrastructure upgrade, speeds are rumored to double to 24Mpbs single, 48Mpbs bonded. This would be more in-line with Comcast business service speeds, the usual at-home internet service provider for local tech companies like Google, Facebook, and Twitter. ETA: end of 2013.
Political Notes
Of concern is that in the recent municipal elections, a credible plan to improve SF infrastructure was not mentioned once, in any race, by any candidate. This is not even an issue that candidates for the Board of Supervisors have to address! Instead, San Franciscans have to endure more fretting about public nudity and dogs off leash.
More concerning: the 5-year and 10-year infrastructure plans for the city do not even mention telecommunications, networking, wireless coverage, fiber, or use of the existing “dark” fiber network.
People, wake up. San Francisco’s status as an alpha-city in the internet economy is at-risk. San Francisco is not competitive with other high-tech locales for individual network infrastructure. The continuing lack of leadership by Mayor Ed Lee and all the current members of the Board of Supervisors may be relegating San Francisco to last-off-the-block in the US municipal fiber race. Sign the petition to make fiber broadband a priority for San Francisco!
The only action this year has been David Chiu‘s plan to allow for installation of fiber when the streets are ripped up for repair. Given his previous opposition to any gig fiber buildout, this is slightly encouraging. (However obvious.) Sadly, this is two years too late for the massive, city-wide sewer repair, and far too weak.
Chicago has a plan.
Post-Sandy New York has a plan. The massive infrastructure replacement required after “Superstorm” Sandy in 2012 mandates a fiber future.
Seattle has a plan, and an activist mayor.
Los Angeles? Sure.
Kansas City already has a plan, a working implementation, and many many many delighted residents. Right now, that mayor is sitting pretty.
The saga so far:
sunglint 