Virginia Rural Broadband Planning Initiative

How-to-Apply Workshop

Presented by the Virginia Department of

Housing and Community Development

Objectives

• Primary

– Sustainable and Competitive Communities

• Secondary

– Facilitate Universal High Speed Access

Sustainable Community

All Components Present

• Healthcare

• Education

• Community serving businesses

• Quality Jobs

Competitive Community

Excellent Quality of Life

• Attractive

• Sense of Place

• Hospitable/Progressive

• Cultural amenities

• Entertainment

Connected

• Level Playing Field with Urban Areas

• Highest Speed of Connectivity

• Affordable/Competitive Rates

• Multiple Providers/All Services

Competitive Community

21st CenturyEconomic Development

Reality

70% Entrepreneurial

30% Industrial

How Fast is FAST?Dial-up

Broadband

Community Development Approach

• Starts with quality planning

• Emphasizes collaboration and partnership

• Integrates broadband into a community development strategy

Strategy

• Comprehensive approach, not target of opportunity

• Technology as an asset to strengthen communities– Prepare communities to utilize, capitalize

on telecommunications infrastructure• Empower local entrepreneurs, enhance

education, improve health care, learn/access applications

Expectations at the End of the Entire Process

• Installation of an open system

– Available to all service providers– Allows maximum competition

(multiple providers for multiple services)

– Based on service delivery instead of duplicative infrastructure

Community Plan Expectations

• Business plan

• Public/Private Approach– Maximum Competition– Facilitate Universal Access

Requirements for Success

• Technology neutral approach

• Community will consider economic implications of not installing fiber–Effect on competitive recruitment of

businesses–Ability to utilize future applications

Planning

• DHCD requires a comprehensive approach– Future oriented

• How can broadband telecommunications infrastructure provide sustainable, substantive benefits to a community?

– Stakeholder driven– Inclusive process– Outcome oriented

• Provide a tool to communities to assist in future implementation of broadband projects

Planning

• This tool is the Community Telecommunications Plan

• Plan required for implementation funding.

Community Telecommunications Plan

• Key elements– Management team– Asset inventory and demand aggregation– Community education and training– Broadband infrastructure options– Network organization and operation– Funding strategies– Marketing the network

Management Team

• Public schools

• Higher education institutions

• Workforce development

• Health care

• Small business/entrepreneur

• Local telephone and internet service providers

• Professional (legal, engineering, accounting)

• Police department and emergency services

• Service sector (banking, insurance)

• Local government

• Economic development professional

• Industry/manufacturing

• Retail/commercial business

Asset Inventory/Needs Assessment

• Inventory of a locality’s existing assets– Existing infrastructure– Physical assets

• Determine needs and usage in the community– Current providers, rates– Entrepreneurship opportunities

Identifying and Aggregating Demand

• Is public investment in physical infrastructure justified? – Existing users

• Satisfaction, types of applications used, number of employees

– Develop training and tools for building demand– Future users

• Need for bandwidth and applications• Would a publicly owned network provide revenue?

Community Education and Training

– Identifying existing tech educational and training programs• Education of leaders and community

– Applications that require high-speed broadband– Linkage between broadband and economic development

• Training in technology and broadband related fields• Entrepreneurship development

– Design a strategy to fill any gaps• Develop partners

– Higher education institutions– Center for Innovative Technology (CIT)– Virginia Electronic Technology Center (VECTEC)

» Website development, e-commerce

Infrastructure

• Phase II of planning– Community has decided to pursue an open

access system– Planning should be technology neutral

• What infrastructure best addresses the identified needs?

• Preliminary design and cost estimates– Plotted using GIS mapping– Identify type of installation, pole attachments,

rights-of-way

Network Organization and Operation

– Ownership of the network• Locality owned, public-private partnership, etc.

– Standards and rules• Open access• Selling bandwidth, service fees, terms for access

– Creation of a business plan• Legal requirements• Operational and maintenance requirements• Rate structure

– Identify service providers for network• Obtain user agreements to illustrate projected customer

base

Funding strategies

• Various sources of funds– What can/should they pay for?– How can projects be phased to match

funding?

Marketing the Network

• Ensure a successful network– Community portal or website

• Attract industry and new residents• Cultivate community interest in new applications

– Invite media to meetings– Publicize education and training events

Technical Assistance

• To help ensure compliance with program requirements and stated performance goals

TA Provided

• Phone

• E-mail

• On-site

• At DHCD offices

• Workshops

• Letter– Questions that require a written response

must be put in writing

TA for Telecomm Planning Projects

• Project Development– Application guidance– Program specifics

• Kick-off meeting– To energize the community, and make them aware of

the potential project

• Facilitated Planning Session– DHCD Reps. facilitate– Creation of a work plan, timeline, and budget– Becomes a management plan, which team can use to

evaluate progress of project

TA for Telecomm Planning Projects

• Procurement– Sample RFP/RFQ– Lists of contacts/consultants that can be included in solicitation

list• Management Team

– Community Representatives are part of the Management Team– Provide samples for elements of the Community

Telecommunications Plan to the Management Team (for example, training classes or survey instruments that have worked in other areas)

• TA before formal review– Plan TA by the stage of the project, risk analysis, monthly

updates, and conversations with the grantee. Reps can then offer assistance before formal reviews are conducted.

Funding

• Up to $375,000 available

• First-come, first-serve basis

• Applications accepted now through June 30, 2007

• Likely fund 12-15 projects initially

Who Can Apply

• Eligible applicants include:– Public entity (such as units of local government,

planning district commissions)– Non-profit organization– Authority– Cooperative

• MUST have support, endorsement, AND direct involvement from the participating local government

• Agree to comprehensive community telecommunications planning effort

Application Requirements

• Cover Sheet (Appendix A)

• Proof of support and endorsement from the participating local government– Signed by the Chief Administrative Officer or

Chief Elected Official

Application Requirements

• Narrative (Appendix B)• Project description and products• Proposed outcomes and challenges• Need for the project• Location to be impacted by the project• Readiness to begin the project, and description

of other community efforts that relate• Capacity

Priorities

• Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:– Fiscal stress– Availability of service providers– Price of current services– Leverage funds, including local match– Rural quality of proposed project area– Capacity to carry out the planning process– Evidence of broad-based community commitment

AND readiness to actively engage in a rigorous planning process

Submission Requirements

• Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis

• Must thoroughly address the application requirements• Send one copy to local Planning District Commission• Applicants must submit an original and four copies to:

Department of Housing and Community DevelopmentTodd Christensen

Project Management Office501 North Second StreetRichmond, Virginia 23219

Questions?

Questions or comments can be directed to:

Chris Thompson804-371-7056

Chris.Thompson@dhcd.virginia.gov

Joe Blevins276-676-5471

Joe.Blevins@dhcd.virginia.gov