Meeting the digital divide in the middle

Kyle Hildebrand / Vivacity Infrastructure Group

Many of us couldn’t even fathom what it would be like to function without the connectivity we expect and utilize daily. But for people in underserved areas without adequate access to high-speed internet, the frustration is real. Take a minute to put yourself in their shoes. Imagine a student, for example, living in a densely populated metropolitan area with an established network infrastructure. She can easily research and enroll in college courses, join and engage in organizations virtually and communicate with students and advisors across campus or the globe.

Now, picture a student without high-speed connectivity. She faces several challenges that her urban counterpart didn’t even consider. She’s unable to access the curriculum to plan her course strategy properly, she doesn’t have the opportunity to engage with other students or mentors who could offer advice and online enrollment isn’t even a feasible option.

Looking through this lens, it’s easy to see the impact that unequal access to connectivity can have on an individual's opportunities for learning and success. However, a lack of connectivity doesn’t just impact education or career planning; it affects everything from day-to-day communications to healthcare, finance, transportation, and more. Yet, millions of Americans still lack sufficient broadband connectivity. To address this, we need supportive laws, smart partnerships, and a solid middle-mile infrastructure.

The need for equitable access

Access to affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet is essential for bridging the digital divide and ensuring equal opportunity for all Americans. Despite technological advancements, the FCC reports that approximately 26 million Americans lack adequate broadband access, hindering economic growth and exacerbating socio-economic disparities. Recognizing the importance of this issue, President Biden's administration has committed substantial federal resources through initiatives like the Internet for All, aimed at connecting every household by 2030 with an $80 billion investment.

Local government-owned middle-mile networks

County or municipal-owned middle-mile networks help deliver equitable broadband access and foster local economic development. These networks are accountable to local governments and communities. This local governance ensures broadband deployment strategies align with community priorities, supporting initiatives from telehealth to smart city technologies.

Key benefits:

1.  Control and Accountability: Municipal networks are accountable to local governments and communities, fostering transparency and responsiveness to user needs. This local governance ensures that decisions about network deployment, pricing and service quality prioritize community interests over commercial profitability.

2.  Cost Efficiency: Municipalities often view broadband infrastructure as a long-term investment rather than a short-term profit venture. This perspective allows for strategic planning that balances immediate costs with long-term benefits, such as enhanced economic development and improved quality of life.

3.  Flexibility and Innovation: Municipal networks can innovate more freely, adapting services to meet evolving technological and community needs without the constraints of profit-driven business models. This flexibility enables the rapid deployment of new technologies and services that benefit local businesses, educational institutions and healthcare providers.

Challenges in expanding middle-mile infrastructure

Expanding middle-mile networks poses several challenges that local governments must navigate:

●      Regulatory and legislative hurdles: Municipalities face regulatory complexities and legal barriers that vary by state and locality. These hurdles can delay deployment timelines and increase project costs, requiring proactive engagement with state and federal policymakers to streamline processes.

●      Funding and financial sustainability: Securing adequate funding for network construction and ongoing maintenance is a perennial challenge. Municipalities often rely on grants, public-private partnerships and bond financing to finance broadband projects. Innovative funding models and federal support are crucial in bridging financial gaps and ensuring project viability.

●      Technical expertise and partnership selection: Building and maintaining middle-mile networks requires specialized technical expertise in fiber optic design, permitting, construction and network management. Selecting the right partners is critical, and municipalities should consider factors such as the partner’s proven track record, reputation and experience.

A national strategy to close the digital divide

Access to high-speed internet should be a national priority, as it is essential for economic growth, improved education and high-quality healthcare. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024, passed by the House of Representatives on May 15, 2024, signifies a significant advancement in addressing these initiatives.

This legislation mandates the development of a comprehensive national strategy led by the NTIA's Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth. Its goal is to streamline federal broadband program management, foster better interagency coordination and reduce bureaucratic hurdles. By doing so, the act will advance broadband deployment and ensure that all Americans can access reliable, affordable, high-speed internet – helping communities reach their full potential.

Public-private collaboration benefits

Public-private partnerships (P3s) or other partnering arrangements are increasingly vital for advancing broadband infrastructure nationwide. They allow states and municipalities to leverage private sector expertise, resources and innovation to accelerate broadband deployment and bridge the digital divide. By partnering with private entities, public agencies can enhance network efficiency, expand broadband access and ensure robust connectivity for communities, no matter how remote.
One notable example of effective collaboration between public and private partners is the State of Arizona’s recent initiative with private sector entity eX² Technology. In this 25-year partnership, eX² provides network operations, maintenance and commercialization services for a statewide middle-mile network on behalf of the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA). While not classified as a P3, this initiative aims to optimize network performance and significantly broaden broadband access statewide by making conduit, dark fiber, wireless, and other network infrastructure assets along Arizona’s I-17, I-19, and I-40W corridors available on an open-access basis through lease and Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) agreements. 

This collaborative approach harnesses private sector expertise to improve network efficiency and expand broadband access statewide, demonstrating the effectiveness of public-private collaboration in advancing broadband infrastructure.

Critical strategies for partnerships and deployment

By fostering partnerships like the one in Arizona, municipalities nationwide can replicate success in improving broadband infrastructure, promoting economic growth and enhancing digital inclusion for all communities. Effective deployment of middle-mile networks hinges on these types of strategic partnerships as well as collaborative planning:

●      Community engagement and needs assessment: Prioritize community input and needs assessment to tailor broadband solutions that address local socio-economic priorities.

●      Public-private partnerships (P3s): Leverage P3s to combine public-sector oversight with private-sector expertise and resources. P3s can mitigate financial risks, accelerate deployment timelines, and enhance service delivery quality.

●      Grant funding and financing models: Explore federal and state grant opportunities and innovative financing models such as revenue bonds or tax increment financing (TIF) to fund network construction and expansion.

●      Long-term sustainability planning: Develop comprehensive sustainability plans that account for ongoing maintenance costs, technological upgrades, and future scalability to meet the growing demand for bandwidth-intensive applications.

Bridging the digital divide

As middle-mile networks grow, they play a crucial role in closing the gap between those who have internet access and those who don't, helping communities to thrive. By focusing on fair access, supporting community projects and creating strategic partnerships, cities can promote economic growth and improve the quality of life for everyone. To achieve this, local, state and federal governments must work together to overcome rules, secure funding, and use the power of broadband technology.

Choosing the right partner to construct, deploy and operate your middle-mile network is crucial. A reliable partner will ensure the network is built efficiently, deployed effectively and maintained adequately, providing consistent and high-quality service.