Learn From What Others Have Done

Often, the best resource for broadband planning is the experience of others. Communities throughout Virginia (pdf) have been pursuing affordable last mile broadband solutions for many years leveraging a multitude of financial models, legal structures, and technology options.

Many projects have originated in the Tobacco regions of the state where funding has historically been made available for the deployment of broadband infrastructure. Some communities opt to participate in the Department of Housing and Community Development’s Telecommunications Planning Process, while others opt to become certified as a Municipal Local Exchange Carrier (MLEC) or “go it on their own” and embark on a PPEA, form a wireless authority or other form of public-private partnership.

Leveraging the Business Models Committee’s broadband model collection efforts, Virginia Resource Authority, through their Community Investment Advisory Council (CIAC) (pdf), has produced an analysis of (some of) the broadband deployment models used in the Commonwealth (pdf) including: Business Models, Community Case Studies, Analysis of Community Case Studies (who drove the initiative, technologies used, Planning Process – including a Community internal "Self-Evaluation" (pdf) for Broadband Deployment, System Design, Business and Financial Planning, and Legal Formats.

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