Jasper County Texas

Description

Local community policies and a lack of local coordination are often major hurdles to broadband providers, as they work to expand their networks and advance access to broadband services. This solution seeks to streamline this process, by eliminating unnecessary policies, consolidating information, and appointing a single point of contact that can ensure that the community is working as efficiently as possible with providers and gaining access to the networks and services that are needed. All community stakeholders, local governing bodies, agencies, utilities, etc. should meet and identify all of the local policies, regulations, and permits required of a telecommunications provider. These disparate elements should be organized into a set of requirements, and a website established with all necessary forms available electronically and capable to be electronically signed. This group will also appoint a single point of contact (SPOC) for all telecommunications infrastructure development projects. This individual should be the community liaison with providers, assist both the community and the providers through any necessary communications, and work through any necessary issues. As a commitment to this process, the local governing bodies should pass language that requires this. along with agreed-upon times for responses to provider outreach, permit approval times, and authorizes the SPOC.

Goals

Provide a framework through which a community can demonstrate that they are a “Digital Ready Community” that has streamlined policies, cleared barriers, and is committed to making broadband infrastructure deployment in the community a priority. Being a Digital Ready community can result in several benefits:

• It provides the community with the opportunity to understand their requirements and makes it easier for the community to assist and work with providers who seek to expand services.
• It gives providers a centralized location to identify necessary regulations, and the opportunity to work with a local jurisdiction to address those regulations in an effective manner.
• Through the Community Broadband SPOC, a liaison is established that helps providers and the community work together and improve communication.

Actions

Action 1 - Conduct an initial meeting of involved parties, with a request that any needs/concerns they have related to broadband be brought to this formative meeting.

Action 2 - Hold a second meeting of this group (and any others who were identified during the first meeting) to review the local regulations and requirements, and to discuss any new requirements that may have been thought of.

Action 3 - Hold a third meeting to review the final list of local regulations and ensure that the responsible bodies have the necessary action items to amend those requirements/policies and to identify the Community Broadband POC candidates.

Action 4 - Pass the necessary language in the governing bodies to amend any necessary regulations or policies, as well as authorizing the SPOC according to local law.

Action 5 - Publish the list of requirements along with the necessary electronic documentation as well as the contact information for the SPOC.

Action 6 - Promote the Digital Ready Community site and SPOC, and apply for Certification by completing the application and submitting all necessary documentation

Responsible Parties

Local government, utilities, planning commissions, zoning boards, other right-of-way managers, etc

Resources

MN Telecommuter Forward: https://mn.gov/deed/assets/telecommuter-forward-application-model-resolution-word_tcm1045-413760.docx

Indiana Broadband Ready: https://www.in.gov/indianabroadband/2632.htm

Tennessee Broadband Ready: 
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/ecd/documents/broadband/Broadband_Ordinance_SAMPLE.PDF

Georgia Broadband Ready: https://broadband.georgia.gov/media/4/download

Stark County, Indiana Ordinance for a Broadband Ready Community: http://co.starke.in.us/ordinances/2020/Ordinance%20for%20a%20Broadband%20Ready%20Community.pdf

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 different 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

Broadband USA's Introduction to Effective Public-Private Partnerships for Broadband Investments: https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/sites/default/files/resource-files/bbusa_effective_public_private_partnerships.pdf

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

United States Department of Agriculture: https://bit.ly/2yUGikq

Description

To maximize the benefits that wireless hotspots provide, a community must ensure there are enough hotspots available, along with a published inventory of the locations of each wireless hotspot. Wireless hotspots are classified as free or available for a fee. Hotspots are often found at restaurants, train stations, airports, libraries, hotels, hospitals, coffee shops, bookstores, fuel stations, department stores, supermarkets, RV parks and campgrounds, public pay phones, and other public places. Many universities and schools have wireless networks on their campuses as well.

Goal

Expand access to broadband by increasing the number of publicly available Wi-Fi hotspots.

Actions

Action 1 - Develop an inventory of public Wi-Fi hotspots in the community, a Wi-Fi inventory.

Action 2 - Conduct an analysis to identify key areas and organizations for the expansion of local wireless hotspots.

Action 3 - The local Chamber of Commerce and tourism groups should promote the hotspots to ensure maximum visibility in the community.

Responsible Parties

Community and business leaders; Civic leaders and organization members; Citizens; Local Government; Broadband Providers; Community Anchor Institutions

Resources

Mapping Community Wi-Fi Access: http: //tech.ed.gov/stories/mapping-community-wifi-access/

Community Wi-Fi – A Primer: http://www.cablelabs.com/community-wi-fi-a-primer/

Map of Wi-Fi hotspots in Illinois: 
https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=23e8046edd2940bc8ad3ad1725e47cd0

Free Wi-Fi hotspot locator apps: https://www.lifewire.com/free-online-wifi-hotspot-locators-818276

Description

Teleworking offers significant benefits to employers, employees, self-employed individuals, and entrepreneurs. Benefits include business infrastructure savings, emissions reduction, and congestion management. Further, teleworking can help businesses and government agencies reduce real estate, energy, and other overhead costs. Research has shown that teleworking programs can increase an employer’s productivity and enable it to continue operating without skipping a beat in the face of a natural disaster or other emergency that might otherwise bring business to a halt. Teleworking allows employees to lower their commuting costs, and accommodates people with disabilities, the elderly, working mothers, and rural residents who may not be able to work outside the home. It is unlikely that all employees will be able to telework. A good way to start is to identify types of positions or job types that can be performed remotely and initiate a trial period and track results. Get feedback from all involved regarding the benefits and challenges and fine-tune as needed.

Goal

Promote or develop flexible efficient and effective work arrangements.

Actions

Action 1 - Establish a cross-functional project team, including labor representatives, employers, educators, and other stakeholders.

Action 2 - Conduct assessment of teleworker and organization technology needs.

Action 3 - Identify eligibility criteria to ensure that teleworkers are selected on an equitable basis using criteria such as suitability of tasks and employee performance.

Action 4 - Promote the establishment of teleworking pilot programs among local employers.

Action 5 - Develop a telework agreement template for use between teleworkers and their managers.

Action 6 - Track changes to the teleworking needs among businesses and workers, adjusting the telework promotion to best suit your community’s current and future needs.

Responsible Parties

Businesses; Business organizations, (e.g., chambers of commerce, economic development corporations, associations, etc.); Citizens and interest groups

Resources

Building a Telework Program: https://bit.ly/3bUaNWf

Teleworking Brings Jobs Home: https://bit.ly/2KST8SN

Job Opportunities via Digital Works Come to Cheboygan, MI: https://bit.ly/2So47YF

Publicly Operated Telework Facilities: An Economic Development Opportunity for Michigan’s Rural and Tourism-Oriented Communities: https://bit.ly/2YkoSID