NEO Fiber Deliverable Routt County Strategic Broadband Plan February 2016 Prepared for Routt County 522 Lincoln Avenue Steamboat Springs, CO 80487 Prepared by Diane Kruse NEO Fiber 970-309-3500 [email protected] 1 NEO Fiber Deliverable Routt County Strategic Broadband Plan Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................... 4 2. Introduction and Overview .................................................................................................................. 6 Background: About Northwest Colorado Broadband ...................................................................... 7 Abundant Broadband is a Necessity for Economic Vitality. ........................................................... 8 The County and its Cities and Towns have Overwhelmingly Supported this Need for Abundant Broadband. ........................................................................................................................... 8 Local Service Providers, Current Environment ................................................................................. 9 What are the Obstacles for Improving Broadband in Routt County and what are the Strategies to overcome these Obstacles? ............................................................................................................. 10 NEO’s Recommendations ................................................................................................................... 13 Capital Costs Required for Implementation and Potential Phases. .............................................. 14 3. Progress to Date, Efforts through Collaboration with the NWCCOG and the NCB Network, NEO’s Recommendations to Expand this Plan ................................................................................... 15 Policy Efforts ......................................................................................................................................... 15 Existing NCB Network, Success in Connecting Key Facilities, Aggregating Demand, and Pursuing Funding Opportunities ...................................................................................................... 17 4. Other Existing Assets within the County ......................................................................................... 18 Key Strategic Assets ............................................................................................................................. 18 Other Fiber and Conduit Assets ........................................................................................................ 21 Tower Locations, Wireless and Cellular Service Areas .................................................................. 21 5. Laying the Groundwork, Methodology and Process, Strategies for Building Infrastructure, Improving Broadband Service ............................................................................................................... 21 Providing Redundancy and Options for Service Providers, Regional Middle Mile Transport 22 Connecting Anchor Institutions ......................................................................................................... 24 Route 1: West out of Steamboat Springs ............................................................................................... 27 2 NEO Fiber Deliverable Route 1: Entire Route ........................................................................................................................... 28 Route 1: Route Zoom on Anchors ...................................................................................................... 29 Route 2: Southwest out of Steamboat Springs ..................................................................................... 31 Route 2: Entire Route ........................................................................................................................... 32 Route 2: Route Zoom on Anchors ...................................................................................................... 33 Route 3: South out of Steamboat Springs ............................................................................................. 34 Route 3: Entire Route ........................................................................................................................... 35 Route 3: Route Zoom on Anchors 1 ................................................................................................... 36 Route 3: Route Zoom on Anchors 2 ................................................................................................... 37 Route 4: Short North Route out of Steamboat Springs ....................................................................... 39 Route 4: Entire Route ........................................................................................................................... 40 Route 5: North Route out of Steamboat Springs .................................................................................. 41 Route 5: Entire Route ........................................................................................................................... 42 Route 5: Route Zoom on Anchors ...................................................................................................... 43 Steamboat Springs Area .......................................................................................................................... 45 Steamboat Springs Area: Entire Area ................................................................................................ 46 Steamboat Springs Area: Zoom on Anchors North ........................................................................ 47 Steamboat Springs Area: Zoom on Anchors South ......................................................................... 48 Expansion to Existing Tower Facilities ............................................................................................. 51 A “Do it All” Approach, Building Fiber to the Home/Fiber to the Business ............................... 56 6. Financing Options, Loan and Grant Programs ............................................................................ 58 Regulatory and Statutory Limitations............................................................................................... 60 7. Expanding NCB’s Middle Mile Infrastructure, Connecting More Anchor Institutions, is it Feasible? .................................................................................................................................................... 62 Defining “Feasible” .............................................................................................................................. 62 Changing the Revenue Share and Pricing Model ........................................................................... 63 More Equitable Revenue Share .......................................................................................................... 63 Other Revenue Sources, Data Services ............................................................................................. 64 Dark Fiber Leases and IRUs ............................................................................................................... 65 3 NEO Fiber Deliverable Another Revenue Source for NCB, - Mobile Backhaul ................................................................... 65 Would FTTH/FTTB be Feasible for a Service Provider in Steamboat Springs? .......................... 65 Financial Results for the Service Provider, FTTH/FTTB ................................................................. 68 8. Conclusions and Next Steps ........................................................................................................... 73 Attachment A: Survey and Speed Test Results .................................................................................. 76 Attachment B: Benefits of Advanced Broadband Networks and Why This Matters, Abundant Broadband is a Necessity for Economic Vitality.................................................................................. 99 Stimulate Economic Growth............................................................................................................... 99 Speed Matters. .................................................................................................................................... 100 Community Outreach and Support................................................................................................. 103 Telecommuting Opportunities ......................................................................................................... 108 Every “Thing” will be Connected to the Internet .......................................................................... 109 Affordable Healthcare ....................................................................................................................... 110 Education and Distance Learning .................................................................................................... 112 Public Safety: Our first responders need reliable, ubiquitous coverage ................................... 113 Digital Inclusion and Civic Engagement ........................................................................................ 114 Civic Engagement, Transparency, Access to Government Resources. ...................................... 115 Higher Home Values ........................................................................................................................