Reaching out to Providers

One of the best ways to expand broadband access is for counties and communities to partner directly with private-sector internet service providers (p. 3). The North Carolina Broadband Infrastructure Office can help counties and other communities connect with and build partnerships with broadband internet service providers.

Private investments in broadband infrastructure are more likely to occur if private providers are offered incentives, and both physical and policy barriers to deployment are lessened. Communities seeking to expand access to broadband internet can work with providers by lowering their deployment costs through revenue and/or cost sharing, as well other incentives and favorable policies, including offering the use of rights of way, utility poles and other physical assets in the area.

As you work on your inventory, you will inevitably list one or more broadband internet providers who have had a presence in the region. Your technical assistance representative can help you locate providers, each one a potential partner in building a core broadband network.

You can find broadband providers in the area by using the North Carolina Broadband Map on the N.C. Broadband Infrastructure site. You can search by a specific address, county or U.S. Census sector using the search bar in the upper left corner. Once the map has centered on the address or area of interest, click on the right or left arrows in the pop-up box to cycle through the available broadband providers, as well as their advertised download and upload speeds. You may also click on the small black rectangle with the small arrow at the bottom of the map to research available broadband providers and the download/upload speeds they advertise.

Your inventory should include all internet service providers in the community and the surrounding region, along with any available relevant information, including the following:

• Addresses, phone numbers and other contact information
• Service models (i.e., retail, wholesale or both)
• Retail service area covered (“footprints” covering adjacent areas or regions)
• Available technologies (i.e., cable, DSL, fiber, fixed wireless and satellite)
• Available information on provider infrastructure (i.e., locations and amount of fiber-optic cables, the specific neighborhoods or areas served by fiber, DSL and fixed wireless, etc.)

Contact Your Technical Assistance Team Member

The Broadband Infrastructure Office Technical Assistance team operates as the liaison between your local community and the providers. They have an updated list of providers who are already nearby in the area and stay up to date on providers that are looking to expand into different areas.