Regional & Community Planning

So Where Are We Now and What Are Our Next Steps? Regional & Community Planning

Taking the time to understand the current broadband coverage, providers, policy issues, and assets within your region can help you develop a more comprehensive approach to attracting the desired middle-mile or last-mile broadband providers to your area Upper Coastal Plain Region Broadband Providers – Edgecombe County

Census Max County Broadband Provider Blocks Download EDGECOMBE CenturyLink, Inc. 2448 1000 EDGECOMBE Charter Communications, Inc. 10 300 EDGECOMBE Crystal Broadband Networks 1 4 EDGECOMBE Level 3 Communications, LLC 6 1000 EDGECOMBE MCI Communications Corporation 3 3 EDGECOMBE MCNC 4 1000 EDGECOMBE PAETEC Communications, Inc. 3 100 EDGECOMBE Suddenlink Communications 1146 1000 EDGECOMBE US LEC LLC 8 10

Broadband Providers that submitted Form 477 Data to the FCC, June 2017 Data

Broadband Providers – Halifax County

Census County Broadband Provider Blocks Max Download HALIFAX CenturyLink, Inc. 2387 100 HALIFAX Charter Communications, Inc. 1123 300 HALIFAX MCI Communications Corporation 2 2 HALIFAX MCNC 5 1000 HALIFAX Mediacom Southeast LLC 1 200 HALIFAX National Mobile Communications 1 1 HALIFAX PAETEC Communications, Inc. 2 10 HALIFAX Suddenlink Communications 272 150 HALIFAX US LEC LLC 8 100

Broadband Providers that submitted Form 477 Data to the FCC, June 2017 Data

Broadband Providers – Nash County

Census Max County Broadband Provider Blocks Download NASH AT&T Services, Inc. 25 1000 NASH Birch Communications, Inc. 1 3 NASH CenturyLink, Inc. 3458 1000 NASH Charter Communications, Inc. 690 300 NASH EarthLink Business, LLC 11 44 NASH Level 3 Communications, LLC 6 100 NASH MCI Communications Corporation 8 2 NASH MCNC 6 1000 NASH PAETEC Communications, Inc. 5 100 NASH Suddenlink Communications 1571 1000 NASH US LEC LLC 44 100

Broadband Providers that submitted Form 477 Data to the FCC, June 2017 Data

Broadband Providers – Northampton County

Census County Broadband Provider Blocks Max Download

NORTHAMPTON Buggs Island Telephone Cooperative 2 6

NORTHAMPTON CenturyLink, Inc. 855 80 NORTHAMPTON Charter Communications, Inc. 320 300 Lightower Fiber Networks I, LLC NORTHAMPTON (fka Light Tower Fiber Long Island LLC) 26 1000

NORTHAMPTON MCNC 2 1000

NORTHAMPTON Mediacom Southeast LLC 295 200

NORTHAMPTON US LEC LLC 2 2

Broadband Providers that submitted Form 477 Data to the FCC, June 2017 Data

Broadband Providers – Wilson County

Census County Broadband Provider Blocks Max Download WILSON CenturyLink, Inc. 2550 1000 WILSON Charter Communications, Inc. 2275 1000 WILSON City of Wilson 784 1000 WILSON EarthLink Business, LLC 9 5 WILSON Level 3 Communications, LLC 4 1000 WILSON MCI Communications Corporation 6 500 WILSON MCNC 4 1000 WILSON Mediacom Southeast LLC 1 200 WILSON PAETEC Communications, Inc. 5 50 WILSON Suddenlink Communications 22 1000 WILSON US LEC LLC 18 20 WILSON Windstream Lexcom Communications, Inc. 2 6 WILSON Windstream North Carolina, LLC 4 12

Broadband Providers that submitted Form 477 Data to the FCC, June 2017 Data

Broadband Planning, First Steps….

What Are Your Goals? What Connectivity Challenges are you working to solve? • Connectivity to Govt-Facilities (county, towns) • “Smart City” Applications • Public Safety • Schools & Libraries • Healthcare Facilities • Downtown Wi-Fi • Economic Development sites • Large or Small Businesses • Agriculture/Connectivity to Farms • Residential Unserved/Underserved • Homework Gap • Adoption/Digital Equity

BIO Community Broadband Playbook

Defined Steps for Broadband Planning:

Broadband Planning Committee (coordination, clear goals)

Assets & Needs (demand aggregation, market analysis, vertical & other assets, importance of granular data)

Connecting with Provider Partners (offer strategies, work with BIO)

Policy & Broadband (local ordinances, taking advantage of existing State or county infrastructure)

Building the Network (RFPs/RFIs, funding sources) Broadband Planning Committee

Top Takeaways

Forming a broadband planning committee is one of the first things to do in working to improve broadband access.

Identify a “champion” of your committee, likely someone who can serve as a chairperson or primary contact person for the committee. Be certain that the champion will have enough time, energy and interest to manage the efforts. Broadband Planning Committee cont.

Consider recruiting for your committee from leaders and stakeholders in the following communities:

• Local government • Public safety • Libraries • Education (public and private K-12, universities, community colleges) • Healthcare • Economic development • Businesses • Nonprofits • Utilities and broadband providers • Private citizens, and others committed to the expansion of broadband internet in the community Assets and Needs

Top Takeaways

Target assets that will help you in the areas of your strategic goals.

Identifying your best vertical assets can take some outside of the box thinking and can increase community buy-in.

The Broadband Infrastructure Office team can help you identify the best assets for your plan. Assets and Needs cont.

Surveys and interviews can provide essential information, including the following:

• Neighborhoods and businesses served by broadband • Affordability and willingness to pay • Download and upload speeds • Types of available internet service • Levels of satisfaction with current services • Reasons for non-usage among unconnected citizens and businesses • Internet speeds likely to be required for applications in the future, especially for businesses, hospitals, schools, nonprofits, and other organizations. Connecting with Provider Partners

Top Takeaways

Understanding the most attractive way to put your best foot forward for providers is the most productive way to get providers to come to the table.

The Broadband Infrastructure Office team is here to work with you every step of the way. Connecting with Provider Partners cont.

Top Takeaways

One of the best ways to expand broadband access is for counties and communities to partner directly with private- sector internet service providers.

Communities seeking to expand access to broadband internet can work with providers by lowering their deployment costs through revenue and/or cost sharing, as well other incentives and favorable policies, including offering the use of rights of way, utility poles, and other physical assets in the area.

Your technical assistance representative can help you locate providers, each one a potential partner in building a core broadband network. Policy and Broadband

Top Takeaways

The lower the costs, the more likely it is that broadband providers will deploy broadband.

Offering incentives and implementing other strategies and policies can make regions and communities more attractive to providers, potentially forming new partnerships between the communities and the providers. Building the Network

Top Takeaways

Policymakers should write and distribute RFPs and RFIs that are neither too general nor too specific.

Build your RFP or RFI around your goals and objectives. Establish your committee’s priorities and must-haves as well as optional elements that providers might consider as well. Building the Network cont.

Top Takeaways

Local foundations or businesses can provide assistance in helping your project be funded.

Broadband USA, a federal program administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), publishes an up-to-date list of broadband deployment grants.

Community leaders can contact their Broadband Infrastructure Office technical assistance team member for information on funding possibilities. Broadband Infrastructure Office Broadband Planning, First Steps….

Determine Where You Are

Where Is Your Community Now with Information Gathering?

Municipal Assets and Fiber – What do you have, what are you considering?

What Are Your Other County or Regional Assets?

Who are Your Potential Partners, especially Broadband Provider Partners?

Do you have other Projects or Initiatives that can be leveraged? Continue to Assess Goals….

No One Solution combination of solutions, even in one county or municipality combination of providers, technologies

Leverage Other Projects, for example… smart/connected city applications, public safety, economic development, homework gap Your Role As A Community Leader

Learn

Plan/Playbook

Identify Eligible Areas

Advocate In Closing… Thank you.

We are happy to assist as you continue your planning.

BIO can look at models, potential leveraging of projects, and assist in conversations with providers.

For additional information, please contact: Jim Corrin Broadband Infrastructure Office (919) 353-1126, [email protected] Let’s Connect!

@NCDIT NC Department @BroadbandIO of Information @ncicenter Technology

NCDIT NC DIT

@NCDIT it.nc.gov