How do networks get built? Building a local broadband network is a complex process that shares some characteristics with general infrastructure development, but also involves some technology and policy issues that are unique to broadband.
How do all the pieces and players fit together? The process of building a local broadband network can be broken down into four steps: Feasibility Study, RFP, Deployment, and Evaluation. While there is no one-size-fits-all way to approach these phases, we have gathered resources to help you through each part of the process.
Feasibility Study → RFP → Deployment → Evaluation
Feasibility Study
The feasibility stage is where you decide whether or not it makes sense to build a broadband network, and what kind of network best fits your community’s needs. Your business model will come out of the feasibility study stage. With what you want in place, you are ready to move on to the RFP stage ….
RESOURCES:
Bakowski (2005):
This document gives a very detailed overview of this part of the process.
Potter & Clement (2007):
Ideal network characteristics for broadband networks in the public interest.
Ethos Business Models Chart
Ethos Golden Examples
Ethos Roles a City Can Play Chart
Ethos Networks by Type Chart
Ethos Networks by Technology Chart
BelAir (2007)
Philadelphia Feasibility Study
Boston Feasibility Study
Lompoc, CA Feasibility Study
San Francisco Budget Analyst Feasibility Study
RFP
In the RFP (Request for Proposal) stage you will draft a document that will tell others (vendors, potential partners, etc.) what kind of network you are building, and what opportunities there are for them. These groups will then submit proposals to you, telling you what they can offer. If the offers are satisfactory, you will then choose one or more of these groups to work with. During contract negotiations pay attention to service level agreements and proof of concept arrangements. With your partners you will create a plan for deployment, and go ahead …
RESOURCES:
Richardson (2005):
This Civitium document gives detailed advice on the RFP stage, and sets the RFP in the larger context of the process of deploying a network.
Excelsio (2007):
Gives advice on how to evaluate RFP submissions.
Tucson, AZ Feasibility Study:
Gives advice on making RFP attractive to potential vendors/partners.
Sample RFPs
Deployment
This is the stage where your network is deployed; you may want to develop ways to monitor progress of the network set-up, and to keep your community informed about the network as it is built.
Evaluation
During the evaluation stage you will assess whether you achieved what you set out to do, and how, based on your experiences, you can make your network better.
RESOURCES:
See the IMPACT section of the Toolkit.