Policies > Broadband > Section 2

Building New Broadband Networks

Improved mapping and data will reveal that some communities have an especially poor availability of service, with limited service options, inadequate speeds, and prohibitively high costs.

To reach these users, new broadband infrastructure is necessary, but building out this infrastructure can be costly. Reaching these communities also requires middle mile expansion, or expanding infrastructure that does not connect directly to an end-user location, which is often given lower priority in funding decisions. Leveraging federal funding for middle-mile expansion and public-private partnerships, as well as investing in ongoing network maintenance, is essential to building out networks for the long-term.

For many rural communities, connecting households to the internet presents a unique set of challenges. The cost of extending networks to rural households is often much higher, which is a major reason that some rural areas remain unconnected. Often, other obstacles arise as well: rural households may be physically more difficult to connect due to terrain or because of property rights that make it challenging to lay fiber or other required infrastructure.

Case Studies

  • Brownsville, TX: Infrastructure Investments

    Brownsville, once an economically depressed and poorly connected city, made significant strides in addressing its digital divide under former Mayor Trey Mendez. In 2019, a task force was assembled to tackle the issue, leading to the approval of $19.5 million in American Rescue Plan funds for the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative in 2021. The project, set to be completed in 2023, prioritizes fast download and upload speeds and is expected to turn a profit five years after completion.

  • Maryland: Office of Statewide Broadband

    The office was established in 2021 by a bill introduced and championed by Maryland Comptroller and former Delegate Brooke Lierman. One of the office’s many goals is to assist local governments by making funding available to help cities reach those still unconnected or struggling with poor connectivity. Local governments can pursue partnerships with local providers or build their own network with fiber cables, hotspots for a mesh network, or other solutions.

  • Colorado: Legislation Directing Funds to Rural Areas

    Legislation modified the broadband fund structure to ensure that sufficient funding would be available for the many rural communities difficult to reach due to mountainous terrain or other geographic variability. Senators Kerry Donovan and Dylan Roberts sponsored legislation that authorized utilities with an easement on private property to install broadband capacity or lease excess capacity of any existing fiber optic line for broadband use.

  • Indiana: Broadband Ready Communities Program

    The Broadband Ready Communities Program outlines the necessary procedures communities need to take to help streamline and accelerate new broadband projects. This includes removing potential barriers such as rights-of-way disputes and establishing a collaborative environment with other government agencies for rapid broadband deployment.

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