A Word from League Sponsor: TING
Making Your City or Town Fiber Broadband Ready
It’s hard to believe that in today’s digital era, a staggering 12.2% of Arizona households still don’t have access to broadband internet. The truth is that while many of us are streaming our favorite shows and video conferencing for work or school, a significant portion of our neighbors are not able to leverage telehealth services, participate in the digital economy, or connect with family and friends.
Thankfully, there’s good news on the horizon. Over the next two years, the State Broadband Office at the Arizona Commerce Authority will be distributing a whopping $993 million to bridge this digital divide, targeting unserved and underserved areas.
But it’s not just about playing catch-up. Many cities and towns already have internet access, but internet service providers are now diving headlong into the next wave of internet expansion—fiber optic internet networks. These networks bring unparalleled speeds and reliability that Arizona residents not only want, but increasingly demand.
Why Fiber?
Fiber internet infrastructure is like the supercar of the internet highway. It’s faster, more reliable, and can handle more data than traditional copper cables or other older technologies. Even your mobile phone towers rely on abundant fiber close to home. Most importantly, fiber is future-proof: internet service providers can continue to upgrade their internet service speeds for decades without changing their infrastructure. That means no large, disruptive construction projects every few years.
But not every city or town in Arizona is geared up for this supercar. It’s essential to recognize that processes and license types that worked well for traditional cable or DSL might not fit the bill for fiber. Adapting is crucial! Here are a two key ways you can make your city or town fiber ready:
1. Making Your Town Fiber-Ready: Fiber License Agreements
One pivotal aspect to consider is the agreement framework. Since fiber-only internet service providers aren’t your traditional cable TV or video service providers, those age-old franchise agreements? They’re obsolete here. Instead, what cities and towns need are Fiber Optic Communications Licenses tailored to the unique characteristics of fiber providers.
Key considerations for these types of agreements include:
- Permitting Processes: City-wide fiber builds call for unique permitting processes that ensure construction can happen efficiently, while ensuring adequate review and coordination with the city or town.
- Deploying Fiber for Municipal Use: Fiber providers can install municipal-dedicated conduit and fiber along with the commercial network. Agreements specify that the fair-market cost of the municipal fiber is reduced from the company’s annual fee, leading to wins for all sides.
- Annual Fee: For city-wide fiber builds, annual fees work best when tied to a percentage of the provider’s revenue in your municipality.
The good news is that you don’t need to start from scratch. Innovative cities and towns like Marana and Mesa have already completed fiber licenses and companies are building municipal wide fiber networks as we speak.
2. Making Your Town Fiber-Ready: Reviewing Construction Techniques
Beyond the paperwork, there’s the actual ‘laying down’ of the infrastructure. The good news is, with advancements in technology, this isn’t the massively disruptive project it might sound like. Modern construction techniques for fiber infrastructure are designed to be minimally invasive, ensuring beautiful Arizona landscapes and cityscapes remain relatively undisturbed and repaired. Collaboration is key. Fiber internet companies work with public works departments to jointly navigate the best techniques for your specific needs. Options include trenching, boring, aerial, and sometimes, modern microtrenching. The aim? Find what works seamlessly with your city or town’s unique topography and existing infrastructure.
Arizona’s Fiber-ready Future
The future of Arizona’s internet is not just about connectivity—it’s about affordable, high-speed, reliable, future-proofed connectivity. It’s about ensuring every resident can tap into the boundless opportunities that the internet offers, from remote work to online education to digital entertainment. Fiber infrastructure is a key ingredient.
By making your city or town fiber-ready, you’re not just laying down infrastructure. You’re laying the foundation for economic growth, increased opportunities, and ensuring that your community stays connected in this ever-evolving digital age. Fiber internet companies are ready to partner with you to ensure that every corner of Arizona gets the broadband speed it deserves. The future is fiber, and that future is now.
AZ League Connection 