How local governments can attract fiber investments now: Public-private partnerships in the BEAD era

by CTC Technology & Energy

Changes are likely coming to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program—and the clock is ticking on any remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that might be earmarked for broadband projects.

In light of those uncertainties, local governments should consider developing strategies to attract broadband investment in their communities. These approaches may include implementing public-private partnerships (P3) with ISPs to maximize available funding and achieve the community’s public policy goals.

Consider these examples of local governments successfully securing partnerships to meet their broadband goals:

  • Memphis, Tennessee, leveraged a competitive process to procure connectivity for enterprise and smart city purposes, with incentives and priority provided for entities that commit to invest their own funds to build fiber to homes throughout the city, including in the lower-income areas of the city.
  • Scott County, Kentucky, used a competitive solicitation to select a partner to build fiber-to-the-premises in its unserved communities and to upgrade existing broadband internet to faster speeds in served areas. The county’s award to its partner was contingent on the partner seeking a federal grant to reduce the county’s financial outlay.
  • Lancaster, Pennsylvania, dedicated some existing infrastructure and modest ARPA funds to incent a private entity to commit to building ubiquitous fiber-to-the-premises, with the city’s contribution and risk both limited and contained.

For more details, see “Fiber Public-Private Partnerships in the BEAD Era: How Localities Can Attract Broadband Investment”—co-authored by CTC President Joanne Hovis and published by the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.

Ready to take the next step? Please contact us if you have questions or would like to discuss how CTC can assist you. The CTC team has developed strategic plans and public-private partnership models for local governments nationwide. We would be happy to help your jurisdiction develop a plan to prepare for new opportunities.