Anderson County Texas

Description

Public-private partnerships take many forms, limited only by the imagination and legal framework in which the municipality operates.  Some communities issue municipal bonds to fund construction of a network, which they lease to private carriers, with the lease payments covering the debt service.  Others create non-profit organizations to develop networks in collaboration with private carriers or provide seed investment to jump start construction of networks that the private sector is unable to cost-justify on its own., A public-private partnership should not be simply seen as a method of financing. The strength of these partnerships is that each party brings something important to the table that the other doesn’t have or can’t easily acquire. The community can offer infrastructure (publicly owned building rooftops, light poles, towers, and other vertical assets for mounting infrastructure) for the deployment of a network, as well as committed anchor tenants. Private-sector partners bring network-building and operations experience.

Goal

Leverage existing community assets in partnership with private sector carriers to expand broadband network deployment.

Actions

Action 1 - Determine Priorities: Competition, enhanced service, equity and service to all, public control over infrastructure, risk avoidance, redundancy, etc.

Action 2 - Examine models of partnership:

• Model 1: Private Investment, Public Facilitation: Make available public assets like fiber and conduit, share geographic information systems data, streamline permitting and inspection processes, offer economic development incentives to attract private broadband investment
• Model 2: Private Execution, Public Funding: Identify revenue streams that can be directed to a private partner, issue RFP for private turnkey execution.
• Model 3: Shared Investment and Risk: Evaluate using assets to attract private investment, evaluate funding new assets to attract private investment, evaluate building new fiber assets to businesses and/or homes for leasing to private ISPs.

Action 3 - Understand key legal considerations for localities looking to build a broadband partnership: Review authority issues, understand the legal tools and instruments that could shape the partnership, negotiate the agreement.

Responsible Parties

Local units of government; Broadband providers; Community anchor institutions; Residents and businesses

Resources

Building rural broadband from the ground up: http://bit.ly/2dx4MBw

United States Department of Agriculture: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahom

BroadbandUSA's Introduction to Effective Public-Private Partnerships: https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/sites/default/files/publication-pdfs/bbusa_effective_public_private_partnerships.pdf

Description

The Federal Highway Administration has indicated that “ninety percent of the cost of deploying broadband is when the work requires significant excavation of the roadway.” A “dig once” policy increases coordination between government agencies and utility companies to minimize the frequency of roadway excavation and disturbance. These policies aim to facilitate joint trenching cost savings and ensure that broadband infrastructure improvements are considered alongside other infrastructure and public works projects. To this end, these policies encourage or require that every infrastructure project include notification and facilitation of opportunities to lower the costs of broadband infrastructure investment by coordinating project planning when a right-of-way (ROW) disturbance occurs. Considering the rocky terrain in the area, such policies could make it significantly easier for internet service providers to expand broadband infrastructure in the community at a lower cost, making it accessible to more households in the area that currently rely on wireless or satellite connections.

Goal

Explore policy options that will make it easier for broadband providers to improve broadband infrastructure in the area. Where feasible and cost-effective, enact such policies. One prime example is a “Dig Once” policy whereby public or private excavators are required to coordinate with local authorities to install fiber or conduit whenever ground is broken on a public right-of-way.

Actions

Action 1 - Explore legislative strategies enacted by states and municipalities and determine if such actions would be legal and cost-effective.

Action 2 - Determine what steps would be necessary to enact a Dig Once provision that will be flexible and create as little disruption as possible, while still resulting in the desired goal of incentivizing the expansion of local broadband infrastructure.

Action 3 - Continue to monitor the impact of such policies and revise as necessary.

Responsible Parties

Economic development organizations

Fixed broadband providers

Local and county government

Road commissions

Road and highway departments

Utilities and other entities likely to dig frequently on public rights-of-way

Resources

Accelerating Broadband Infrastructure Deployment from the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, and The Office of Policy and Governmental Affairs: https://bit.ly/35jMBtN

Model Codes for Municipalities from the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee: https://bit.ly/3bSv92c

Texas Department of Transportation’s Right of Way Utilities Manual: https://bit.ly/2WctAWj

Description

For small businesses, an online presence and the use of social media are vital to stay competitive in the twenty-first century. A website and social media are not just for companies that have the experience, staff, or budget; any small business can tap into these resources. Training should be provided to small businesses regarding the use of websites and social media within that small business. Website topics should range from starting a basic website to more advanced topics such as e-commerce. Social media topics should include a variety of social media outlets including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, and LinkedIn., Broadband empowers small businesses to achieve operational scale more quickly by lowering start-up costs through faster business registration and improved access to customers, suppliers, and new markets. According to Connected Nation’s 2012 Jobs and Broadband Report, businesses that are using the Internet bring in approximately $300,000 more in median annual revenues than their unconnected.

Goal

Encourage small local businesses to develop websites and to use social media, e-commerce, and other advanced uses of broadband and technology.

Actions

Action 1 - Work with the local chamber of commerce and/or libraries to expand existing programs that promote e-commerce, such as free websites and social media development, within the small businesses of the community.

Action 2 - Partner with providers to sponsor workshops. (ISPs may be willing to sponsor events since small-business workshops will likely lead to increases broadband adoption and use).

Action 3 - Identify regional and community partners with resources and expertise to assist the community in producing “free” website and social media workshops.

Action 4 - Schedule workshops and advertise classes via local media.

Responsible Parties

Chamber of commerce/economic development organization; Libraries; Community College; Broadband providers; IT/Technology organizations; Local SCORE representatives

Resources

On-Site Technology Training for Small, Rural Michigan Businesses: https://bit.ly/2Yh4zvL

The Importance of Tech for Small Businesses: https://bit.ly/2zL9Lha

Revenue Trends for Small Businesses: https://bit.ly/35jYBLQ

Google Helps Businesses Get Online with Free Resources: https://bit.ly/2VPbpa0

Boosting Business with an Online Presence: https://bit.ly/3aVxLuF

Building E-Commerce in Wright County, IA: https://bit.ly/2z2jPll