For Immediate Release: Monday, November 5, 2018
Montgomery County’s Department of Technology Services (DTS) Office of Broadband Programs recently hosted a “Commercial Buildings Broadband Summit” at Montgomery College’s Germantown campus. The Summit brought together County leadership, commercial real estate professionals, broadband service providers and key business leaders to discuss how to improve access to robust and reliable high-speed broadband services at the County’s many commercial buildings.
“The goal of growing knowledge-based jobs was one of the primary reasons I launched the ultraMontgomery program four years ago,” said County Executive Ike Leggett. “At that time, I said, ‘Internet connectivity and network infrastructure is just as fundamental to our economic future as are transportation systems.’ We needed robust fiber networks to connect people with opportunities, and to move our economy at the speed of our ideas. I’m proud of the many accomplishments we have achieved; and Montgomery County is eager to continue to lead the country in these efforts.”
Summit topics included a commercial building market update and analysis provided by Scott Homa and Patrick Latimer of JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated), a panel discussion on broadband-ready buildings and better biotech, and a session focused on creating awesome wireless in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified buildings and event room spaces. The event concluded with a networking lunch where attendees collaborated and exchanged ideas on broadband services at commercial buildings in the County.
“This very successful Summit was all about confirming that we understand where the market is going and ensuring that the County government and the private sector are working together to make sure we are all successful in enabling broadband availability and abundance in support of the County’s economic and workforce development and digital equity initiatives,” said Montgomery County Council President Hans Riemer.
Riemer provided data from studies in New York City, demonstrating that improvements in broadband services on a proprietary rating scale, could increase rents by $7.50 per sq. ft. for each level increase in the rating scale. ultraMontgomery Director Mitsuko Herrera stated that Montgomery County is working with network service providers to implement a commercial building broadband ready-building rating scale in Montgomery County as a guide for tenants.
The panel discussions concluded that broadband network design in buildings is at a nascent stage, and lags behind other standards for plumbing and electrical codes. Montgomery County’s Chief Broadband Officer Joe Webster announced release of the County’s Broadband Infrastructure for Developers: A Fiber Optic Connectivity Guidebook to provide practical advice for developers, buildings owners, and property managers to cost-effectively make more broadband service options available to their tenants. The Guidebook is available at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ultraMontgomery/business-engagement.html
“The key takeaway from the Summit was that everyone, from the government to broadband service providers, commercial building owners and developers, and businesses should continue to work together via more planning, developing industry standards, and proactive communications to provide the broadband services critical in today’s economy,” said Montgomery County Technology Director Sonny Segal. “We look forward to continuing the dialogue with key community partners and delivering ever better broadband through continued collaboration and teamwork.”
For additional information please contact Mitsuko Herrera, ultraMontgomery Program Director at Mitsuko.Herrera@montgomerycountymd.gov or 240-777-2928.
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Release ID: 18-735