With record-level federal funding and successful deployment strategies to model after, we have never been closer to achieving universal broadband.
Generations of farmers have passed down stories [1] about “the night the lights came on” for nearly 90 percent of U.S. farms. At the time, the electrical divide was threatening to stratify [2] the country into drastically different standards of living, keeping them from participating in modern life and, as technology progressed, potentially cutting them off from the world.
Today, that divide is digital, and technology is moving faster than ever. In 2020, the FCC estimated only 14.5 million Americans were still unable to purchase broadband internet, but independent broadband research group BroadbandNow argues [3] that number is closer to 42 million.
Achieving universal broadband may have once seemed impossible, but today, we have more resources than ever to get it right. With federal funds, including $65 billion dedicated to buildouts and affordability from the 2021 infrastructure bill, and the examples of pioneers who brought themselves broadband long before this federal initiative, modern leaders are already starting to emerge as examples of success.
The early pioneers set the stage for today’s leaders
During rural electrification, communities banded together to create plans to bring them what they needed to stay competitive in a modernizing world. To attempt the same with high-speed broadband, cities have adopted several different approaches:
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Building it themselves:
In 2010, EPB — the government-owned electric company in Chattanooga, Tennessee — had visions of a smart energy grid [4] and saw fiber as a necessary component. With the help of a federal grant and legal rights as the city’s existing electricity provider, they completed the installation of over 600 miles of fiber in two years. By 2010, complete citywide coverage made Chattanooga the nation’s first Gigabit City. By 2015, the city offered speeds up to 10 gigabits per second, one of the fastest speeds in the world. By 2020, the initiative had brought in estimated economic benefits worth over $2.69 billion [5]. -
Making it easier for third-party providers:
When the city of Lincoln, Nebraska, was late to adopt competitive broadband options, local businesses started to complain. In 2011, the city installed five miles [6] of conduit so local ISPs could lease space and serve downtown businesses. Four years later, the city partnered with Allo Communications to lease the remaining conduit and build out the rest for city-wide fiber-to-the-home connectivity. To deploy quickly and serve entire communities, the city changed its business processes to reduce Allo’s costs and safely speed up construction. By 2021, Lincoln's internet speeds were ranked third [7] among large U.S. cities. -
Splitting the work down the middle:
Huntsville, Alabama, had been drawing engineers and businesses in its existing space industry, and biotech was growing, but its private broadband offerings were not keeping pace [8]. The city had maintained a municipal fiber network since 1999 and saw the need to expand citywide, pioneering a utility lease model — public utilities would build or expand fiber networks into grid modernization initiatives and lease it out to third-party providers. The deal attracted tech giant Google Fiber to commit to a 20-year lease in 2016, and many others followed. By 2021 [9], Huntsville was another Gig City, with the country's largest annual jump in internet speeds, and ranked 12th in national internet speeds.
Today’s $65-billion success stories need more people
Since the success of these self-led city initiatives, many smaller communities [10] have adapted these models to better fit their needs and bring in broadband for themselves. Now, record levels of private investment and five sources of federal funds are fueling national broadband efforts toward universal deployment. Communities nationwide have the money and the examples to turn to for developing their own broadband deployment strategies. Still, this time, their success stories depend on having enough workers to carry them through to completion. A recent government analysis [11] estimated that if broadband deployment were to take place over the next 10 years, it would require an additional 23,000 workers.
North Carolina is one state headed for training success. Wilson Community College has partnered [12] with Greenlight Community Broadband to pilot the Fiber Broadband Association’s OpTIC (optical telecom installation certification) program — the country's first fiber optic certification program. North Carolina is also the state where AT&T and Corning have partnered to offer their own [13] fiber optic training program, and the city of Wilmington, NC, has announced plans to invest $2.5 million [14] in free digital skills training and employment matching. Through cooperative efforts, North Carolina is leading the way in building out the labor pool needed to meet the ambitious promise of universal broadband.
Adapt success stories to fit community needs
Not every state broadband office will look the same, and not all communities can adopt a successful implementation model without making some adjustments. The key is engaging with community voices at all levels so that broadband officials can clarify and best address local needs. With high-speed broadband, everyone stands to benefit if done right or suffers if the process fails, which means everyone has a reason to get involved:
- State authorities— Adapt successful broadband strategies to best fit each community’s needs by engaging local leaders, service providers, and broadband entrepreneurs. Examine existing laws and regulations regarding pole access, right-of-way, and permitting and seek to streamline them to facilitate progress to prevent costly delays.
- Local broadband companies— Step and get involved. A lot of money is available for network build-outs and expansion, so if you lack capabilities or scale, seek to form partnerships with other private operators or municipal entities. Additionally, partner with educational institutions and apply for funds to recruit and train more workers to ensure your community has the needed teams.
- Interested community members— Attend town hall meetings and stay in the know about local broadband initiatives. Contact state representatives or local broadband offices about incorrectly mapped communities. Start conversations about broadband and spread awareness about affordability opportunities. Look for training opportunities and consider a career in broadband.
A task like universal broadband might seem daunting — building out networks in hard-to-access pockets of the country and making sure everyone can afford and use that coverage. The process will take time and a coordinated effort, but it promises to bring modern opportunities to more communities so more individuals can support their families, pull themselves out of poverty, and be more active participants in society. Much like the electrification of rural America, universal broadband will be worth it.
Sources:
- www.usda.gov/media/blog/2016/05/20/celebrating-80th-anniversary-rural-electrification-administration
- americanhistory.si.edu/blog/rural-electrification
- broadbandnow.com/research/fcc-broadband-overreporting-by-state
- prospect.org/infrastructure/building-back-america/infrastructure-success-story-in-chattanooga/
- www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/new-study-documents-269-billion-benefits-epb-community-fiber-optic-network
- www.bbcmag.com/community-broadband/lincoln-steps-into-the-future
- advisorsmith.com/data/cities-with-the-fastest-and-slowest-internet-speeds/
- www.bbcmag.com/community-broadband/huntsville-becomes-a-gig-city
- www.huntsvilleal.gov/fiber-broadband-association-honors-huntsville-as-gig-city-for-outstanding-fiber-broadband-deployment/
- www.thefastmode.com/expert-opinion/22495-the-keys-to-unlocking-universal-broadband-are-in-the-hands-of-our-communities
- www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-105626
- www.wilsoncc.edu/in-the-news-aug2/
- www.attconnects.com/att-and-corning-announce-plans-to-launch-fiber-optic-training-program-in-north-carolina/
- www.benton.org/headlines/wilmington-north-carolina-considers-25-million-fund-digital-job-training-underserved
