Merit Network BTOP Status Robert Duncan & Pete Miller Director of Network Operations

1. Merit Network BTOP Status Robert Duncan & Pete Miller Director of Network Operations

2. REACH-3MC Project • $130 MM Project • $102 MM Federal Government • $8 MM Merit • $20 MM Commercial Sub-recipients • ~2300 miles of backbone fiber-optic cable • Equal access to Information throughout Michigan • Over 100 schools/libraries directly connected • Fiber is a possibility for hundreds more • Homes and businesses served by sub-recipients and their customers

3. REACH 3MC Route Breakdown • Round I Routes are in four corridors: • Southern Corridor, Monroe to Benton Harbor • Western Corridor, Benton Harbor to Mackinaw City • Central Corridor, Mount Pleasant to Hillman • Eastern Corridor, Midland to Oscoda • Within each corridor fiber segments from city to city were defined • Intermediate cities were selected for “drive by” to allow future service to under served areas

4. REACH 3MC II Route Breakdown • Round II Routes are in three corridors: • Middle Corridor, Grand Rapids to Oscoda • North East Corridor, Oscoda to Mackinaw City • Northern Corridor, St. Ignace to Ironwood • Additional spurs from the main path: • Green Bay spur, connects to Wiscnet and BOREASnet • Duluth spur, connects to BOREASnet • Houghton spur, connects to MTU

5. REACH 3MC, II and Existing Merit Backbone • Merit’s existing 1,600 mile fiber network is shown in GREEN • Round I ARRA funded new build is shown in BLUE • Round II ARRA proposed new build is shown in RED • Both join current Merit fiber network in key locations • Monroe • Hillsdale • Mt. Pleasant • Muskegon • Midland • Hillman • Big Rapids • Grand Rapids

6. REACH 3MC Network Specifications • Backbone network varies from 60 to 156 count across the entire primary footprint • Distributed across ?? partners • Partners have ownership of various count of fiber on a per segment basis • Lateral builds into Anchor Tenants will be fewer fiber • Builds into Anchor Tenants off of the main fiber trunk are budgeted separately from the backbone • Merit is taking 12-18 count across the segments • On one portion of the Southern Route Merit has 12 count • SMF-28e or equivalent fiber will be used • Low loss across DWDM bands • Reasonable price point • No special optronics required

7. Fiber Utilization Planning • Merit will immediately light two pair of fiber • One fiber pair will be lit with long haul DWDM 10ge electronics and connect major sites • Approximately 150 to 200 miles apart • No mid segment node insertions planned • The second fiber pair will be lit with CWDM 1ge electronics • This will be the access network • Many mid segment insertions planned • Driving signal both directions to nearest 10g node • Remaining dark fiber will be available for future network expansion and lease 10g North Node 1g Mid Node 1g Mid Node 10g South Node

8. Implementation Strategy • Completed Environmental Assessment For Round I • Completed Engineering For Round I • Sourced the optical networking HW to ADVA • Completed Round I Construction RFP • Will Work With 5 or 6 Construction Firms • Approximately 20 Construction Crews Running • Build Out From Existing Network

9. Collaboration • Duluth Spur Connecting To BOREASnet • Green Bay Spur Connecting To Wiscnet and BOREASnet • UW-Extensions (Popular Wis. To Superior) • Build Will Utilize Existing Infrastructure • 20 Miles of Manistee ISD? Conduit • Grand Haven School District Conduit • All Band/ Hillman Conduit • Bridge Authority • Build Collaborations • Bloomingdale Telephone • Northeast Co-OP Duluth

10. Lessons Learned • Environmental Assessment / FONSI • RFP Everything / Sole Source Justification • Documentation 250000 Docs • Governmental Regulations and Requirements • Permitting • Collaboration Is Critical

11. Thank You