Developing a Community Broadband Roadmap Part 2 Building

Developing a Community Broadband Roadmap

Part 2: Building Broadband Infrastructure Partnerships

Part I Recap • A Community Broadband Roadmap should include: • Vision and goals • Anticipated benefits • Strategy and action plan • The Roadmap can also identify new partnership opportunities

Part II: Building Partnerships • What will you gain from a partner? : o Filling a knowledge gap o Reaching new stakeholders o Accessing additional funding sources? • Identify potential partners that increase: o Cost-Sharing o Revenue Potential o Expertise and Support o Institutional Collaboration

4 Key Steps to Forming Partnerships Step 1. Understand Partnership Structures Step 2. Find the Right Partners Step 3. Determine Each Partner’s Contribution Step 4. Develop a Framework

Step 1: Partnership Structures Private Sector-Led Commercial provider builds, owns, and operates the infrastructure Government-Led & Private Supported • Public entity owns the network • Private or nonprofit partners construct, operate and maintain the infrastructure Government-Led & Non-Profit Supported • Government initiates with city • Non-profit organizations carry out the mission Joint Ownership Model Public or private commercial providers and government entity jointly invest in infrastructure 6

Successful Partnerships Private Sector-Led Government-Led, Nonprofit Supported Government-Led, Private Supported Joint Ownership

Step 2: Consider the Right Partners • Pick partners carefully • Engage a comprehensive set of partners • Team should include: • A mix of skills • Varying backgrounds • Common goal Characteristics of a Broadband Partnership Win-win relationship Credibility with stakeholders Capacity to add technology Ability to bring users Agreements on communication Compliance with regulations Diversity

Assess Partners’ Strengths Awareness Increase credibility and awareness Funding Market Reach Facilitate delivery to appropriate places or people Operational Efficiency Improve the project’s effectiveness Quality Add a sounding board to improve quality and worth Expertise Accelerate new services and decrease expenses Increase sustainability through financial support

Partner Benefits Private-Sector Providers Foundations & Grant. Making Organizations Educational Institutions & Libraries Healthcare Institutions Expertise, broadband capacity, network interconnection Broadband support, access, rural service, economic development Anchor facilities, expertise, outreach Expertise, broadband capacity, network interconnection Non-Profit Organizations Anchor tenants, telemedicine operations Economic Development Organizations Initiatives, planning assistance, finding broadband champions

Step 3: Determine Partners’ Contribution • Consider gains and contributes • Develop a graphic illustration of contributions Community Funding Resources Project Planning Management Staff Partner 1 Funding Network Build Network Operations Partner 2 Assets Resources Leased Fiber Network Staff

Consider the Contributions Funding • • Source of funding Funding commitments and requirements Valuations of contributions Timeline Assets • • Who provides assets and timeline? Who owns assets and transfers? Who maintains inventory? Agreements on distribution, maintenance and accounting Resources • Resources being provided • Scope, availability, and experience of personnel • Customer service

Step 4: Develop the Partnership Framework • Frameworks help communities: o Develop partnership agreements o Assess the regulatory and operational context o Maintain strong relationships Informal Handshake Formal Mutual Agreement Memorandum of Understanding Written Contract with Performance Penalties 13

Key Components of a Partnership Contract • A partnership contract can help parties identify roles and responsibilities • Parties involved • Expectations • Roles and responsibilities • Expected deliverables • Project timeline • Dependencies/risks • Cost-sharing, rates, charges • Intellectual property rights • Procedures to manage changes • Terms for dispute resolution 14

As communities work through the four steps, consider… • What types of partners should be considered? • What criteria should drive partner selection? • What methods should be used to formalize the selection?

Questions?

Resources • • • Federal Funding Guide https: //www 2. ntia. doc. gov/files/powerbroadband_070517. pd f (note – please put link to new toolkit- the Power of Broadband partnerships) Public-Private Partnerships Guide Community Broadband Roadmap Toolkit Introduction to Stakeholder Outreach For General Information: 202 -482 -2048 broadbandusa@ntia. doc. gov http: //www. ntia. doc. gov/broadbandusa To Request Technical Assistance: Submit Intake Form