Navajo Tribal Utility Authority

1
Navajo Tribal Utility Authority Fiber
Initiative
Presented by
Monroe Keedo
June, 2009
2
Why am I here?

• Provide Understanding of NTUAs Five Fiber
  Projects
• Explain the Potential Benefits of the Fiber
  projects to the Navajo Nation
• Obtain Support from the Navajo Nation for these
  Five Fiber Projects

3
NTUA Summary

• NTUA was established in 1959 as a nonprofit
  Utility Enterprise of the Navajo Nation
• 6 district offices and 3 sub-offices, employing
  over 500 people
• NTUA provides Electric, Natural Gas, Water,
  Wastewater, and Photovoltaic services to the
  Navajo Nation

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Scope of the Five Fiber Projects

• Utilizing NTUAs existing Utility infrastructure
  to develop a highly integrated network capable of
  offering voice, data and video services to
  support the core operations of our utility
  business.
• Connect the network to a Point of Presence (POP)
  for connectivity to the outside world

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Why NTUA building Fiber Backbone

• To communicate with Electric, Water and Gas
  facilities and equipment
• Electric Power Substations
• Switches, Circuit Breakers and Reclosers -
  coordination
• Well Sites, Pump sites, Treatment Plants
• Gas Meters and Values

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Why NTUA building Fiber Backbone

• To meet Federal Regulatory Mandates and Standards
  
• RUS (Rural Utility Services)
• NERC (North American Electric Reliability
  Council)
• FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
• DHS (HomeLand Security)
• To prevent a wide area power outages due to
  cascade affect with non protective systems.

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Why NTUA building Fiber Backbone

• To broaden the capacity of NTUAs
  telecommunication network to provide improved
  bandwidth for our existing data needs and for
  future data, voice, SCADA and video requirements.
  
• To seek opportunities to offset the incremental
  costs of maintaining and operating a reliable
  communication and data infrastructure.

8
Information Technology at NTUA

• The NTUA Owns and Operates
• Data Center facilities (Ft. Defiance, AZ, DR)
• Microwave Network (WAN/LAN)
• Internal IT Support to 8 District Office
  locations
• Telephone network systems
• Business Systems (SAP, GIS, SCADA)
• Hardware Support and Software Support
• Email and Internet/Intranet

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Philosophy

• Continually seek opportunities to improve the
  health and wealth of the residents of the Navajo
  Nation, and the employment of the Navajo people
• The NTUA has always and will continue to stress
  the Philosophy that NTUAs Telecommunication and
  Utility infrastructure is for the best interest
  and protection of the Navajo people

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Proposed Five Fiber Routes
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Potential Benefits to Navajo Nation

• The Five Fiber Project will help the Residents of
  the Navajo Nation with enhanced high speed
  backhaul communications for
• Education
• Economic development
• Health Care programs and processes
• Public Safety
• In short, this will give NTUA another
  opportunity to raise the quality of life for the
  residents of the Navajo Nation and enable the
  employment of the Navajo people.

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Fiber is the Critical Foundation for any Change
on the Navajo Nation

• NTUA is in the best position to Install, Manage
  and Operate a sustainable fiber backbone across
  the Navajo Nation
• Vast electric utility infrastructure to attach
  fiber optic cables
• Construction Crews and Line crews to construct
  and maintain fiber lines
• Established Information Technology Division
• Install and Manage fiber electronics
• Managing lighted fiber

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Fiber is the Critical Foundation for any Change
on the Navajo Nation

• NTUA is also in the best position to establish a
  sustainable business plan for backhaul fiber.
  Opportunities include
• Leasing Fiber strands
• Revenue sharing opportunists
• Partnership to combine the strength of NTUA with
  established telecommunications companies
• Joint Equity Partnership
• Retail Sales Agent
• ISP-NOC/Operations Center

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Challenges

• ROW
• Funding to build the Fiber Infrastructure
• 20 million dollars
• Support from the Navajo Nation for these 5
  projects
• Navajo Nation Leadership
• Navajo Nation Resources and Minerals
• Navajo Nation Broad Band Group
• Business leaders and companies

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Summary

• WHY
• Enables NTUA to better Operate, Manage and
  Provide core Utility Services
• BENEFITS
• Enables Competitive Educational, Health Care, and
  Market Conditions for the Navajo Nation
• OVERALL
• Improving Quality of Life for residents of the
  Navajo Nation

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Questions?