Investing in Middle Mile Can Help Communities Achieve Broadband Equity

Despite tremendous efforts and good intentions, the quest for equitable and affordable broadband access remains incomplete but is as important as ever in our digital world. 

Marketplace.city and its partners at Mighty River and US Ignite provide a blueprint in this paper for cities and counties to expand last-mile Internet access by leveraging a municipally-enabled, middle-mile fiber backbone without bearing the full burden of infrastructure costs. The approach helps bridge the persistent digital divide affecting numerous communities nationwide.

Drawing on our direct experience in projects from Fort Worth, the Lake Cities, Texas, and Joplin, Missouri, the team highlights the efficacy of following this approach. In all three of these recent examples, the municipalities successfully deployed long-term fiber with contractual guarantees to extend high-speed, scalable, and equitable broadband access to all corners of their communities, serving the needs of both governments and citizens.

The team at Marketplace.city focuses on approaching the issue of broadband through the lens of procurement; helping communities that have the need efficiently, effectively, and compliantly find the best partner. Utilizing an efficient and competitive step-by-step process can allow even the smallest communities to approach the complex, daunting and evolving broadband market. This paper covers key elements of the end-to-end process including:

-Assess broadband needs and building local support.

-Making a financial plan to maximize results for each dollar.

-Setting an outcome driven plan.

-Building and executing an efficient and effective procurement.

-Contracting to ensure outcomes and protections for your community

The significance of middle-mile investments in achieving broadband equity and affordability should not be overlooked. Middle Mile as a Catalyst offers an essential guide for local leaders looking to address broadband Internet issues in their communities with innovative approaches.

"The Middle Mile as a Catalyst: Municipal Investments for Broadband Equity and Affordability"
is a collaborative project with Marketplace.city, Mighty River LLC, and US Ignite.