PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA               Item No.       5f 
ACTION ITEM             Date of Meeting    July 9, 2013 

DATE:    June 28, 2013 
TO:      Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:   Michael Ehl, Director, Airport Operations 
Wayne Grotheer, Director, Aviation Project Management 
SUBJECT:  Airport Fiber to Backstands project at Seattle Tacoma International Airport
(CIP#800464) 

Amount of This Request:  $789,000    Source of Funds: Airport Development Fund 
Est. State and Local Taxes: $166,000    Est. Jobs Created: N/A 
Est. Total Project Cost:    $3,284,000 
ACTION REQUESTED: 
Request Commission authorization for the Chief Executive Officer to authorize design of the
Airport Fiber to Backstands project and the purchase of supporting technology and equipment.
This authorization is for $789,000 out of a total estimated project cost of $3,284,000. 
SYNOPSIS: 
Two recent capital improvement projects, the South Satellite Common Use and the Concourse D
Common Use projects, have installed Airport-provided data infrastructure at check-in podiums in 
gate hold-rooms. This project is a continuation of the Port's successful implementation of that
program. Airport-provided data infrastructure allows several airlines to utilize the same fiber 
optic and copper wire data infrastructure for gate operations. Installation of this infrastructure
creates flexible gating opportunities and reduces future capital improvement airline relocation
costs at four Concourse A gates, nine Concourse B gates and all current gates on Concourse C.
Equally important, this infrastructure also provides an opportunity to improve wireless data or
"Wi-Fi" coverage at these gates for air travelers. Travelers rank fast access to the Internet as one
of their most important "must haves" at the Airport. 
This project was included in the 2013 capital budget and plan of finance as a business plan
prospective project with a budget of $2,302,000. The budget increase is due to adding additional
WiFi equipment, data infrastructure and redundant network pathways to the project. 
BACKGROUND: 
The Airport has recently installed Airport-provided data infrastructure at several locations that
can be used interchangeably by the Port for common-use equipment, and by airlines for
proprietary equipment, as a flexible cost-savings initiative. This flexibility affords the Airport

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
June 28, 2013 
Page 2 of 5 
the ability to provide an agile, quickly configurable system that is adaptable to changing airline
needs. This multi-user infrastructure may be shared, preventing each airline, or the Port, from
having to provide separate and costly data infrastructure systems. 
Installation of a multi-user infrastructure system has been completed on Concourse D and the
South Satellite and has been partially completed on Concourse A and Concourse B via previous
capital projects. American Airlines, Alaska Air Group, JetBlue, Virgin America, and United
Airlines are all successfully using the infrastructure today in various locations across the airport. 
The North Satellite will be covered as part of the NorthSTAR program. 
One of the stated goals of the Airport is to provide an extraordinary customer experience.
Current strategic goals include operating a world class airport by anticipating the needs of our
customers and becoming one of the top ten airports in the world by 2015 (as measured by the
Airports Council International Airport Service Quality index, or "ASQ").The use of laptops,
tablets, and smart phones, by passengers waiting in hold-rooms continues to increase and our
customers have made it clear that having a fast connection to the Internet in these areas is very
important to them. Our current Wi-Fi antenna system can't keep up with growing passenger
demand for internet access. Adding multiple, faster Wi-Fi antennas in each hold-room will
improve wireless coverage and access speed for travelers. Installation of Airport provided
infrastructure to the gates makes adding more Wi-Fi access points in the hold-rooms more cost
effective than ever before and allows the Port to respond to this ever-growing need. 
PROJECT JUSTIFICATION: 
The purpose of this project is to provide an expansion of Airport provided infrastructure through
a program of Port-sponsored projects that will support operational goals to provide multi-user
infrastructure to more gates at the Airport and support customer service goals to improve the
effectiveness and availability of the terminal-wide Wi-Fi antenna system.
Project Objectives: 
Provide adaptable and agile data infrastructure to meet the ever-changing needs of the
Airport community without investing in new facilities 
Minimize air carriers'and Airport costs as they relocate within the existing terminal
facilities. 
Improve coverage and speed of the Airport's Wi-Fi antenna system 
PROJECT SCOPE OF WORK AND SCHEDULE: 
Scope of Work: 
The physical elements of this project include extension of Port standard fiber optic and copper
wire infrastructure (12 single mode fiber, 12 multi-mode fiber and 12 CAT6 cables) from
existing Port communications rooms to a communications rack in retrofitted gate check-in
backstands. Project scope will also include new communications racks and backstand casework
modifications. Equipment will include network switches, patch panels and gate information 
displays, but no other equipment.  Power will be added to the modified backstands. The
construction and installation of a second or redundant network connection between two Airport 
communication rooms on Concourse A will also be included.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
June 28, 2013 
Page 3 of 5 
Project scope will also include the addition of Wi-Fi access points in close proximity to each gate
backstand in the hold rooms. Access points will connect to the new Port standard network
infrastructure installed at the gates by this project. The placement and number of access points
will be determined during design, but generally they will be installed on the wall or ceiling with 
two access points per gate. Access point equipment will conform to existing standards and
support, at a minimum, the Port's current Wi-Fi network standards. 
Concourse A scope of work: 
Airport provided data infrastructure to four gates.
Gate information displays and digital display controllers at all gates. 
Additional Wi-Fi access points at all gates. 
Fiber redundancy between Port communications rooms. 
Concourse B: 
Airport provided data infrastructure to nine gates. 
Gate information displays and digital display controllers at all gates. 
Additional access points at all gates. 
Concourse C: 
Airport provided fiber and copper to all current gates. 
Access points at all gates. 
Schedule: 
Design begins:         August 2013 
Design complete:        January 2014 
Construction begins:      May 2014 
Construction complete:    December 2014 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: 
Budget/Authorization Summary:               Capital   Expense   Total Project 
Original Budget                         $2,302,000       $0     $2,302,000 
Current Budget Increase                     $982,000              $982,000 
Revised Budget                        $3,284,000            $3,284,000 
Previous Authorizations                         $0       $0           $0 
Current request for authorization                $789,000       $0      $789,000 
Total Authorizations, including this request         $789,000       $0      $789,000 
Remaining budget to be authorized            $2,495,000       $0     $2,495,000 
Total Estimated Project Cost                $3,284,000       $0     $3,284,000 
Project Cost Breakdown:                   This Request         Total Project 
Construction                                   $0          $1,530,000 
Construction Management                    $165,000           $330,000 
Design                                  $432,000           $432,000

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
June 28, 2013 
Page 4 of 5 
Project Management                        $120,000          $240,000
Permitting                                  $10,000            $20,000 
IT Equipment                             $28,000           $504,000 
ICT Project Management                      $31,000           $62,000 
State & Local Taxes (estimated)                    $3,000            $166,000 
Total                                     $789,000           $3,284,000 
Budget Status and Source of Funds: 
This project (CIP #C800464) was included in the 2013  2017 capital budget and plan of finance
as a business plan prospective project with a budget of $2,302,000. The budget increase is due to
project scope added during notebook development;  including,  for example,  added Wi-Fi
equipment, additional data infrastructure and redundant network pathways.  The increased
budget will be transferred from the Aeronautical Allowance CIP (C800404) resulting in no net
change to the capital budget. The funding source will be the Airport Development Fund. 
Financial Analysis and Summary: 
CIP Category             New/Enhancement 
Project Type              Renewal & Replacement 
Risk adjusted discount rate     N/A 
Key risk factors             N/A 
Project cost for analysis        $3,284,000 
Business Unit (BU)          Terminal 
Effect on business performance  NOI after depreciation will increase 
IRR/NPV             N/A 
CPE Impact             CPE will increase by $.02 by 2015. However, no
change to business plan forecast as this project was
included.
Lifecycle Cost and Savings: 
The Port Information & Communication Technology and Aviation Maintenance departments
estimate that operations and maintenance cost increases associated with the necessary support
plan/contract for the switches and access points included in this project is approximately $550
per gate, per year. For the 26 gates included in the project scope, ICT annual operations and
maintenance expenses are estimated to increase by approximately $14,000 per year. 
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES: 
This project supports the Port's Century Agenda objective of meeting the region's air
transportation needs at the Airport for the next 25 years by providing the Airport and airlines
with greater facility agility and flexibility.  Creating a flexible multi-user data network 
environment allows carriers and the Airport to spend fewer capital dollars when airlines move or
expand. More carriers are able to utilize the same facilities without redesign and construction to
customize the operating environment to their specific proprietary needs.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
June 28, 2013 
Page 5 of 5 
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY: 
This project demonstrates environmental sustainability by improving existing Port assets and
better utilizing existing resources.  Airport provided infrastructure will facilitate greater
utilization of Concourse A, Concourse B and Concourse C gates. This reduces the potential
environmental impact of major new construction.
BUSINESS PLAN OBJECTIVES: 
This project helps the Airport meet the needs of our airline customers and helps the Portreach 
one of the Airport's stated goals to provide an extraordinary customer experience. Installation of
Airport-provided infrastructure to the gates minimizes construction by making new operational
improvements with technology. This helps to minimize costs to the airlines. A dding more Wi-
Fi access points in the hold-rooms connected to this new infrastructure allows the Port to respond
to the ever growing WiFi demand in a more cost effective way than before. 
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS: 
Alternative 1) Airlines install proprietary infrastructure: Airlines on Concourses A, B and C 
could install  proprietary communications technology resulting in a less flexible gate use 
environment. This will not allow the Port or other carriers to benefit from the rapid-convertibility
and flexibility of the airport-provided data infrastructure  for growth and operational
requirements. This is not the recommended alternative. 
Alternative 2) Do nothing: This would not provide flexibility for future moves or improve Wi-Fi
coverage at the Airport. This is not the recommended alternative. 
Alternative 3) The Port installs multiple user infrastructure: The Port installs airport-provided 
data infrastructure and new Wi-Fi access points at Concourses A, B and C, utilizing the latest
technology, to respond to our passengers' most popular requests, optimize flexibility and
accommodate growth and operational requirements by all carriers that use these facilities. This is
the recommended alternative. 
OTHER DOCUMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS REQUEST: 
None 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS: 
None.