7 Steps to Helping Your Community Get Connected
In November, the Biden administration signed a once-in-a-generation bill making a considerable investment in our nation's infrastructure. This bipartisan infrastructure bill is a 1.2 trillion dollar fund to assist communities in building better roads, bridges and trains to broadband access and cleaner drinking water.
$65 billion of that 1.2 trillion dollar infrastructure bill will go to broadband upgrades. Two-thirds of the $65 billion will specifically be allowed for state broadband infrastructure buildouts. That is nearly $42.5 billion. In addition, $1 billion of the $65 billion will go to middle mile buildouts in rural communities. Each state will receive 100 million dollars with what funds remain, leaving an estimated $37 billion left over to be allocated once further FCC mapping is complete.
Now is the time to get your projects shovel-ready and utilize the $100 million already allocated to your state. If you wait on these projects, it could be two or three years before the FCC mapping is complete.
Here are the seven steps to helping your Community Align with the Broadband Goals outlined in the Infrastructure Bill:
1.) IDENTIFY BROADBAND NEEDS.
Create a vision for your Community's broadband.
What does your communities broadband look like right now?
What will it look like in 5, 10,15, or even 20 years?
Do you have a future-proof broadband plan? Will your network grow with your future broadband needs?
2.) IDENTIFY A RANGE OF SOLUTIONS.
3.) PICK A SOLUTION.
How will you tackle the middle mile?
How will you tackle the last mile?
Will your network be an Open Access Network ...or will it be an Open Application Network?
4.) PARTNER WITH A VENDOR.
Research Vendors
Determine with your local procurement if you need to issue an RFP before selecting a vendor when applying for grants.
5.) EXPLORE FUNDING OPTIONS
6.) IDENTIFY AND APPLY FOR FUNDING.
ARPA ($10B+)
BEAD Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program ($42B+)
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ($65B)
NTIA Grants (Various Programs Specific to Communities)
USDA
RDOF (The FCC's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund)
ReConnect Loan and Grant Program
Treasury
7.) EXECUTE!
Together we can do this!
