BROADBAND DRIVES Wednesday, October 30 Bridging the Digital Divide Full Day of Sessions AMERICA’S GROWTH Exhibit Hall Open With Advanced Fiber Networks Evening Reception For More Information: _____________ WHAT WE BELIEVE: Broadband Communities is committed to connecting all communities with ultra-fast www.TownsAndTech.com broadband in order to drive growth and maximize economic benefits. Urban vs. rural; high vs. low income; big To Exhibit Or Sponsor Contact: Thursday, October 31 carriers vs. the small guys… our Bridging the Digital Divide event will address the haves vs. have-nots problem Irene Prescott I [email protected] I 505-867-3299 Full Day of Sessions and debate how America can become a nation of all haves. For Assistance Contact: Breakfast Buffet [email protected] I 877-588-1649 Exhibit Hall Open WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN WASHINGTON: New Technologies, New Strategies, New Services – No One Covers It Like We Do! MARK YOUR CALENDAR • Weigh technologies to determine what works best for your community: Fiber, Wireless, Fixed Wireless, Satellite, 5G…. WASHINGTON, DC OCTOBER 30 - 31, 2019 • Consider ways to fund infrastructure needs so that high-speed broadband is affordable for all Americans: USDA loans and grants; FCC funds; public-private partnerships; opportunity zone financing… and more. HELPING COMMUNITIES • Explore best practices for creating an accurate broadband map. • Empower co-ops to provide high-speed broadband. TAKE CONTROL • Learn about successful digital inclusion efforts. OF THEIR BROADBAND • Bring better healthcare to all. FUTURES • Educate the workforce of tomorrow. LOOK WHO YOU WILL MEET Federal legislative and government officials • Municipal, regional and state officials • Systems operators Telco and electric cooperative leaders • Investors and lenders • Economic development professionals Community anchor institution officials • Teleheath experts • Broadband champions CONFERENCE SITE WHY WASHINGTON, DC? The Westin Alexandria – Old Town The digital divide is a haves vs. a have-nots problem: 400 Courthouse Square, Alexandria, VA 22314 urban vs. rural, high vs. low income, big guys vs. small (703) 253-8600 guys… getting it solved is a Washington problem. Conveniently located near Fiber broadband offers the means to bridge the gap. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Come hear from the people we’ve elected to get it done. & Washington Dulles International Airport EDITOR’S NOTE Shovel Ready CEO Barbara DeGarmo / [email protected] PUBLISHER Nancy McCain / [email protected] EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Masha Zager / [email protected] EDITOR-AT-LARGE Steven S. Ross / [email protected] Communities across the United States have shifted from ASSOCIATE EDITOR Sean Buckley / [email protected] “Why fiber?” to “How?” ADVERTISING SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Irene Prescott / [email protected] his year, there was a subtle DIGGING IN EVENTS COORDINATOR shift in tone at the BROADBAND Dennise Argil / [email protected] There were detailed questions about COMMUNITIES Summit, selecting technology, about marketing ONLINE NEWS EDITOR T Marianne Cotter / [email protected] particularly the sessions that dealt with services, about mitigating risk, about communities on the wrong side of the ART DIRECTOR managing partnerships and about Karry Thomas digital divide. One attendee at the April using fiber to market communities. CONTRIBUTORS event commented that “the projects are Attendees wanted to dig in and apply Rollie Cole, Sagamore Institute for more ‘shovel ready’ now and not just Policy Research the lessons learned by communities a David Daugherty, Clarus Broadband concepts.” Another told us, “People few steps ahead of them on the path to Heather Burnett Gold, HBG Strategies are more interested in tangible ways to broadband. And there were answers to Joanne Hovis, CTC Technology & Energy secure funding for their communities.” Trevor Jones, OTELCO (almost) every question. Earlier events – BBC Summits and Michael A. Kashmer, Digital Broadband It’s great to see so many people Programming Consultant economic development conferences, W. James MacNaughton, Esq. determined to build broadband Fiber Connect conferences and others Christopher Mitchell, Institute for networks and to reap their benefits. Local Self-Reliance – inspired many communities to begin I’d like to think the industry has Bryan Rader, UpStream Network the search for better broadband. Today, Craig Settles, Gigabit Nation reached the tipping point that the team Robert L. Vogelsang, Broadband not as many people need inspiration. in Medina County, Ohio, identified Communities Magazine More people need to know how to get in its Summit presentation. (See p. 20 from A to B – or, often, from C to D. for a fuller description of that project.) BROADBAND PROPERTIES LLC At the 2019 Summit, I heard CEO attendees ask many questions like these: After the tipping point, more fiber Barbara DeGarmo networks will be built because people VICE PRESIDENT, BUSINESS & “How can I make my telehealth are thinking deeply about how to OPERATIONS service sustainable in the long make them work and not focusing on Nancy McCain term?” why they need them. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Robert L. Vogelsang “We’re a small fiber community. If you’re at Fiber Connect in BUSINESS & EDITORIAL OFFICE How should we prepare for 5G?” June, you’ll find still more experts BROADBAND PROPERTIES LLC willing to share their experiences and 1909 Avenue G • Rosenberg, TX 77471 “What gives an electric co-op an insights into the business, operational 281.342.9655 • Fax 281.342.1158 advantage as a borrower?” and engineering issues surrounding www.broadbandcommunities.com “Can we partner with different fiber networks. You’ll see the latest Broadband Communities (ISSN 0745-8711) (USPS 679-050) (Publication local entities when we apply for technology advances that can make Mail Agreement #1271091) is published 7 times a year at a rate of $24 per year the difference between “fiber sooner” by Broadband Properties LLC, 1909 Avenue G, Rosenberg, TX 77471. Periodical ReConnect funds in multiple postage paid at Rosenberg, TX, and additional mailing offices. areas?” and “fiber later.” And you’ll come away POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Broadband Communities, with new ideas about how to move your PO Box 303, Congers, NY 10920-9852. “How can we take advantage community forward. v CANADA POST: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. Canada Returns of the Opportunity Zone to be sent to Bleuchip International, PO Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2. Copyright © 2019 Broadband Properties LLC. All rights reserved. program?” “What’s the best way to finance private competitive fiber builds?” [email protected] 2 | BROADBAND COMMUNITIES | www.broadbandcommunities.com | MAY/JUNE 2019 Stability integrity And our customer service scores rock. Contact US TODAY TM 800.677.6812 Simply Exceptional Connections [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS COVER STORY IN THIS ISSUE 20 Is Fiber at the Tipping Point? PROVIDER By Masha Zager, Broadband Communities PERSPECTIVE Medina County, Ohio, is trying a new model for financing and building rural 8 For More Wins, Outwork broadband. the Competition / By Bryan J. Rader, UpStream Network FEATURES MULTIFAMILY BROADBAND BROADBAND DEPLOYMENTS 16 TECHNOLOGY 24 Ontario & Trumansburg 10 FCC Proposed Expansion Telephone Companies Deploy Of the OTARD Rule / FTTH / By Alyson Moore, By Carl Kandutsch, The Kandutsch Law Office and Multifamily Corning Optical Communications Broadband Council 26 A Digital Inclusion Blueprint NEW WORLD For Public Housing / OF VIDEO By Hannah Rank and Christopher Teenagers in the Online Mitchell, Institute for Local Self-Reliance 12 72 Student Housing Technology: World / By Michael A. Kashmer, Predictions Versus Reality / Digital Broadband Programming 30 Missouri Innovation Center By Andrew Marshall, Consultant Takes Advantage of Gig Campus Technologies Inc. Services / By Sean Buckley, CONNECTIVITY Broadband Communities 74 Decoding the 10G MATTERS Opportunity / By Sean Buckley, 14 USDA ReConnect: CONFERENCE COVERAGE Broadband Communities Expensive Money / By Trevor Jones, OTELCO 34 Fiber Moves Forward: A BBC Staff Report on the ECONOMIC PROPERTY OF DEVELOPMENT 2019 Broadband Communities THE MONTH Summit Technology Access For an 78 16 Millennials Love Home Equitable Future of Work / Automation: 985 High 46 Fiber Connect: By Cat Blake, Next Century Cities at The Castle, Columbus, Broadband Communities’ Ohio / By Sean Buckley, Guide to the 2019 Fiber BROADBAND Broadband Communities Broadband Association APPLICATIONS Conference 80 Educational Technology DEPARTMENTS BROADBAND POLICY Assumes Robust Broadband / By Rollie Cole, Sagamore Institute for 2 EDITOR’S NOTE 60 Community Connectivity Is Policy Research BANDWIDTH HAWK Threatened / By Kevin Donnelly, 6 National Multifamily Housing Council ABOUT THE COVER 82 MARKETPLACE ADS 64 Border to Border 2.0: 84 ADVERTISER INDEX / Minnesota’s Broadband New York artist Irving CALENDAR Reboot / By Matt Schmit, Grunbaum sees fiber University of Minnesota networks landing everywhere. Visit www.bbcmag.com for up-to-the-minute TECHNOLOGY news of broadband trends, technologies and 68 Three Myths of Fiber deployments Cleaning / By Jay Tourigny, twitter.com/bbcmag MicroCare Corporation 4 | BROADBAND COMMUNITIES | www.broadbandcommunities.com | MAY/JUNE 2019 Exceed residents’ expectations with faster WiFi Set your property apart and attract the residents you really want. Get secure, reliable, best-in-class WiFi speeds. Deliver endless streaming entertainment options and feel