BROADBAND ADVISORY

COMMITTEE
DECEMBER 14, 2016

TODAYS AGENDA
To clarify mission
To answer questions posed by members
To provide material requested by members
To review a draft of the presentation which will be made to the Board of
Supervisors on January 12, 2017

BROADBAND ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Appointed by Board of Supervisors in February 2016
Consists of elected and appointed officials, citizen representatives from each
magisterial district, economic development, community development, reps.
from business organizations.

Has been meeting monthly for past ten months

BROADBAND ADVISORY COMMITTEE MISSION (FROM

BOS RESOLUTION AND COMMITTEES ADOPTED BYLAWS)
Advisory committee
Identify unserved/underserved areas
Review current services
Recommend potential solutions.

BROADBAND ADVISORY COMMITTEE ADVISES

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MAKES POLICY
BBAC not charged with prioritizing which areas are served first
BBAC not charged with determining what type of organizational entity will
implement (authority, etc.)

BBAC not charged with determining how to finance implementation.

BBAC not charged with integrating recommendations into Countys overall
comprehensive land use or economic development plans.

WHAT IS BROADBAND?
Federal Communications Commission defines adequate service for rural
areas as 10 Meg Down/1 Meg Up (10/1 Service)

Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development:

United States Department of Agriculture: 10/1
Up for Debate

10/1

BBAC ACTION STEPS

In Spring 2016, County contracted with Broadband Consultant Design Nine:

Conduct a survey of residents and businesses

Identify currently available assets
Identify what currents providers exist and where they provide service
Develop a comprehensive strategy to provide service to
unserved/underserved areas.

IDENTIFY UNSERVED/UNDERSERVED AREAS: FIRST

METHODCOMMUNITY SURVEY
1,500 responses from business and residents
94% of residents want better internet access
87% of businesses want better internet access

IDENTIFY UNSERVED/UNDERSERVED AREAS:

SECOND METHODRAW DATA
VIRGINIA BROADBAND AVAILABILITY MAP
CENTER FOR INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY
VIRGINIA OFFICE FOR TELEWORK PROMOTION AND BROADBAND
ASSISTANCE

DATA:

2012 - 2015

CABLE LINE COVERAGE

DSL WIRELINE COVERAGE

FIXED WIRELESS COVERAGE

4G LTE COVERAGE

COMCAST BUILDOUT MAP

ACCELERATE VIRGINIA
DEAD ZONES

CONCLUSIONS FROM COMMUNITY SURVEY AND

RAW DATA
LARGE AREAS IN THE NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE COUNTY, WHERE
MEDIOCRE DSL IS THE ONLY OPTION,WERE IDENTIFIED AS THE MOST
UNSERVED OR UNDERSERVED AREAS.

POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS : TOWERS

Network of County-owned towers
Offering low cost access to Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs)
Five to seven new towers (180 ft.)
$175k per tower (includes site prep, construction and wireless links between
towers)

POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS: FIBER DEPLOYMENT

Fiber to residents could be deployed by using the towers as a connection point
to deliver access through a local fiber backbone or network

Annual investment of approximately $4 million per year over 5 years.

2018-FY 2022)

(FY

IN SUMMARY:

5-7 TOWERS
($1,000,000)

FIBER BACKBONE
Approx $4M/Year over 5 Years
($19,730,270)

ADEQUATE COVERAGE FOR 83% OF COUNTY

RESIDENTS

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DECISION MAKING

PROCESS
In a ranking of all capital projects over a five year period, the Board of
Supervisors identified Broadband as the number one priority.

Broadband funding has been proposed in the CIP ($20,000,000 over five
years) but has not been voted on/added to CIP yet.

Board of Supervisors will be holding a Capital Projects Retreat early in the

New Year.

5 YEAR PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

YEAR ONE (FY 2018) $4,737,000

County issues RFP for tower planning/construction
Determination of operating entity/authority, etc., by Board of Supervisors
Grants/public-private partnerships continue to be sought
Legislative/Land use process for towers
Bids reviewed/project management
Tower construction
Solicitation of providers (WISPS)
WISPS locate on towers = County revenue

YEAR TWO (FY 2019) $2,861,405

Completion of tower construction and continued solicitation of WISPS
RFP issued/Private-Public Partnership sought for beginning build out of fiber
network to connect towers

Legislative/Land use process

Project management
Extension of fiber network to initial areas determined by Board of
Supervisors

Grants continue to be sought (federal, state, foundation)

Revenues/Rents collected

YEAR THREE (FY 2020) $4,370,910

Extension of fiber network to additional areas determined by Board of
Supervisors

Grants continue to be sought (federal, state, foundation)

Revenues/rents collected

YEAR FOUR (FY 2021) $3,064,900

Extension of fiber network to additional areas determined by Board of
Supervisors

Grants continue to be sought (federal, state, foundation)

Revenues/rents collected

YEAR FIVE (FY 2022) $4,636,055

Extension of fiber network to additional areas determined by Board of
Supervisors

Grants continue to be sought (federal, state, foundation)

Revenues/rents collected

ADVANTAGES
Economic viability for existing businesses, home businesses, telework
Enormous potential for business development
Increased desirability/marketability of real property
Educational enhancement
Attraction and retention of new jobs/businesses.

FINANCING OPTIONS
Bond Financing
Grants/Loans/Foundations
Public Private Partnerships
Special Taxing District
County/County Authority Administers
Revenues from WISP Providers

Pay to Play

NEXT STEPS
Board of Supervisors Decision Process
Initial Implementation/Project Plan
Financing Considerations

QUESTIONS?