Community Networks Quickstart Program Pays Off With Early Planning

An increasing number of local communities are realizing that investing in publicly owned Internet network infrastructure will lead to better connectivity. In order to help these communities in the early planning stages, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and NEO Partners LLC have developed the Community Networks Quickstart Program.

Learn more at cnquickstart.com or email info@cnquickstart.com for more details.

We're Considering A Community Network, But….

Fiber optic, fixed wireless, a hybrid network…there are different possibilities for what type of technology is right for your community. You will also need to decide where to deploy and where to begin that deployment in order to help improve future success. You’ll want to hire engineers and consultants, but it would be helpful to have that extra dose of knowledge about facts and figures prior to working with them You want to know what questions to ask.

The Community Networks Quickstart Program will guide you through different deployment options — full Fiber-to-the-Premise, full wireless, and hybrid — each based specifically on your community and its specific needs. We use data that includes the size, population, and other characteristics of your community; we offer resources and advice to help you get started on the right foot. You also receive a recommended design that you can use when you apply for funding and refer to when you work with engineers, designers, and consultants. Our goal is not to replace the in-depth work that will come later, but to enhance it and to make your time with your consultants and other professionals more effective.

If your rural county has limited funds to dedicate toward broadband infrastructure deployment, one of your biggest challenges is deciding where to target that investment. The Community Networks Quickstart Program will help by examining different options so you can determine where your investment dollars will be most effective.

We're Helping People

Rock Island, Illinois, IT Director Tim Bain said:

"As we reached year-end I was able to identify a source of funds to proceed with the study in December 2018, and we had the results by January of 2019.

…

I believe the study was a worthy investment. It provided the outside review we needed and helped identify the true nature of residential Internet in Rock Island."

And in New Hampshire, Dana Primiano, who chairs the Hancock Telecommunications Committee also provided a testimonial:

"Quick Start is a great early use program for those looking to get grounded on how the three primary non-cellular broadband scenarios fit their community. Quick Start gave us two critical components as we began our community broadband initiative; 1) which of the three options are economically viable given the demographics and regional providers to our town 2) tools to help fine tune the parameters of our most likely solution as we begin assessing provider input."

For a demonstration from Community Network Quickstart, check out this short video:

We also had the talent behind the tech Glenn Fishbine and Nancy DeGidio on the Community Broadband Bits podcast for episode 339, shortly after we launched the service. Check out the discussion they had with Christopher:

If your community is interested in learning more about what Community Network Quickstart can offer, contact us at info@cnquickstart.com for more details.