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BACKGROUND In 2012, the City initiated a survey of local businesses to better understand the needs of the business community. Results from that survey showed that local businesses felt strongly that the City was deficient in its telecommunications infrastructure, particularly cellular and broadband service. Following that survey, the City Council added an item to its annual Work Plan Priorities List directing staff to perform an infrastructure development assessment to address technological shortfalls within the City such as poor broadband and cellular coverage. The business community is not alone in its requests for better cellular service. Residents have voiced concerns as well regarding the lack of cellular coverage (voice and data) in the City. Pleasanton residents rely on their cell phones and tablets for work, whether they maintain a home office or are doing business from their devices while out and around Pleasanton. Residents have also become accustomed to using these devices to improve their quality of life and for public safety. The ways that people rely on cellular devices is endless but staff has highlighted a few examples that demonstrate why good cellular coverage throughout the City is important to residents: • A resident doesn't have a "land line" in their home and relies solely on their cell phone for calls, including access to 911. • A resident is hiking on the Pleasanton Ridge or visiting one of our many parks and wants to feel the security that if they or someone else gets injured, they can call 911. • A parent drops off his/her child at soccer practice and asks the child to call once practice is over. The child is likely to use a cell phone to call the parent and will need good cell coverage at the sports field. The parent may be running errands when the child calls (grocery shopping or picking up other kids from their activities) and relies on their phone to have good coverage wherever they go so that they don't miss the call. • Parents at an all-day swim meet would like the ability to do a variety of things with their devices, e.g., access the internet, make phone calls, take videos of their kids at the swim meet and send them to grandparents. • A realtor is meeting a client to show a home and wants to access the MLS from the home in order to answer questions for the client (or wants to call the listing agent for the information). • A contractor is "on the job" at a residence and needs to make a call to a subcontractor or supplier or access the internet to review the specifications on a product to be installed. Page 2 of 10