In partnership with the Connected Program, Donley and Wheeler Counties collected surveys from residents, business owners, government officials, and other community stakeholders over the course of multiple months. These surveys collected data about the internet needs and wants of residents and evaluated rates of broadband access, adoption, and use among key community sectors. Results of the survey in both counties indicate a need for affordable high-speed internet that supports telework and general community communications. Fifty-three percent of employed Donley County respondents indicate they telework, with another 13% indicating they own or operate a business from home. In Wheeler County, 61% of employed respondents indicate they telework, with an additional 6% indicating they own or operate a business from their home. In both communities, the leading reasons for dissatisfaction with internet service were slow speeds and unreliable connections. The preceding survey results indicate residents in both communities have a strong desire and need to be digitally engaged, but currently have barriers. Without the proper broadband infrastructure, Donley and Wheeler Counties will be unable to support the digital needs and wants of residents now and in the future. Through improvement projects and strategic partnerships, Donley and Wheeler Counties can bring affordable and reliable broadband to residents.
Objective
Increase broadband access, adoption, and use in Donley and Wheeler Counties through broadband improvement projects and strategic community partnerships.
Actions
Action 1 – To effectively understand the current broadband funding landscape in Donley and Wheeler Counties, the broadband liaisons should meet with internet service providers (ISPs) who have already been allocated federal money, including recipients of funding through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). Additionally, the liaisons should meet with local ISPs to assess the status of ongoing or upcoming infrastructure improvement and expansion projects. As Donley and Wheeler Counties consider expanding and improving broadband infrastructure, the goal should be to pursue strategic projects that are not needlessly redundant (i.e., expand access where RDOF winners are already working).
RDOF
Donley:
Resound Networks – 867 location – $2,724,120.00
Wheeler:
Resound Networks – 169 locations – $575,116.60
Action 1a* – If Donley County is interested in pursuing conversation with Guggenheim Partners, the broadband liaison should set up a meeting with the company’s representative, Taylor Harrington. Guggenheim Partners is a global investment and advisory financial services firm. More information is available on their website; see the link in the below references. Guggenheim Partners expressed interest in learning more about Donley County in May and offered to discuss further details via a Zoom meeting.
Please contact your Broadband Solutions Manager at CN Texas for specific information to contact Guggenheim Partners.
Action 2 – During meetings with providers, the broadband liaisons should discuss the role the counties- or a city- could play through financial backing or strategic partnerships to speed up project completion, ensure project completion, or start a new project altogether. Ultimately, Donley and Wheeler Counties should play a strategic role in ongoing or planned projects that will widely benefit the most residents.
Donley County has been allocated $636,713.00 in Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, and Wheeler County has been allocated $982,069.00. While neither county must make any decisions about spending these funds until the Treasury Department issues final rules, it is important for the communities, through the broadband liaisons, to begin building relationships with local providers in preparation for passage of those final rules.
Action 3- After taking stock of broadband initiatives in each county, the broadband liaisons should identify applicable grants to expand broadband access, adoption, and use. Grants may provide funding for broadband infrastructure or digital literacy and digital skills expansion. Current grant openings can be found on the Connected Nation and BroadbandUSA websites. Links can be found in the resources section.
Responsible Parties
Local units of government; Broadband providers; Community and regional organizations
Timeline
The broadband liaisons and community stakeholders should begin meeting with internet service providers within three months of receiving this plan. While the counties do not have to allocate funding or spend federal dollars within that same three months, they should outline the scope of broadband infrastructure projects (ongoing and planned) within that timeline.
Resources
