Forging the Fiber Future
Getting fiber deployed across America will require leadership at all levels of government
In a recent article on Medium, I wrote on the promise of next generation wireless internet connectivity, and how it stands to benefit cities in particular.
In the piece, I mentioned Next Century Cities, a nationwide, non-partisan coalition of more than 150 mayors committed to faster, more affordable broadband, and how our members are looking to wireless connectivity as a key piece of their broadband plan. However, wireless internet still depends on robust fiber deployment. This means that realizing the benefit of “wireless” will actually require more fiber, not less.
That’s why it is absolutely essential that the next administration work with Congress and local government leaders to get fiber policy right.
Here are a few policy ideas to accelerate fiber deployment in Next Century Cities communities so they can realize the promise of next-generation wireless:
Infrastructure bank support for fiber deployments
Deploying fiber is capital intensive, but too many cash-strapped local and state governments struggle to find the money to make fiber investments. A federal infrastructure bank could offer direct loans or loan guarantees at favorable interest rates that would go a long way to closing that cash gap. Moreover, an infrastructure bank could consider scoring applications with certain favorable attributes, such as public and private buy-in, open access provisions, etc., with higher marks.
Federal “Dig Once” and “Climb Once” policies
“Dig Once” and “Climb Once” are common sense policies, supported by Next Century Cities, that save time and money in fiber deployment. Broadband providers need access to the telephone and utility poles to string their fiber facility. However, getting fiber on those poles often requires every incumbent provider on the pole going through a “make ready” process. Each incumbent must separately bless the poll as viable for additional fiber and approve any alterations that would move existing wires or cable. In practice, this means redundancy and delays. “Climb Once” policies (aka “One Touch Make Ready”), by contrast, designate a single contractor that all firms — incumbents and new entrants alike — can agree on to make one trip to each pole. Louisville, KY, and Nashville, TN have both passed local climb once policies, though not without some controversy with existing providers.
Current pole rules are a thicket of policies and jurisdictions. Some poles fall under jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission. In another 20 or so states, the state government oversees pole rules. The federal government could take steps to streamline the current regulatory mess.
Efficient fiber deployment also depends on access to underground rights of way. Dig Once rules require developers to install fiber whenever they dig up rights of way to install, for example, new ducts for sewage. Next Century Cities members like Santa Monica, CA have used Dig Once requirements to incrementally build out fiber facility throughout the city.
Federal Dig Once legislation has been proposed, with support in Congress. Coupling Dig Once reform with congressional Climb Once action would give local governments and providers the clarity they need, and accelerate fiber deployment.
Streamlined permitting for access to federal lands
Another area of potential bipartisan agreement concerns accessing federal lands. Right now, providers and communities alike find that getting the permits they need to cross federal lands is a slow, painstaking process. Respecting the historical character and environmental health of our federal lands is important, but we can surely strike a balance that streamlines permitting to grant access for crucial infrastructure builds. The Obama Administration has taken some steps, but many Next Century Cities member communities still report problems — which means there’s plenty of work for the next administration to do to speed up access to federal lands.
Clarifying community broadband policies
States offer a hodge-podge of limits on community broadband deployments. In some states, municipal networks are outlawed, and in others they may be heavily conditioned. The thicket of restrictive state laws can leave communities with the wrong impression that they are barred from building any broadband infrastructure at all, even where state policy permits some builds, such as allowing a municipal dark fiber ring, for instance. It’s important that communities have clarity — and ideally uniform national policy — to remove anti-competitive barriers from local broadband innovation.
As we say at Next Century Cities, the internet is nonpartisan and collaboration benefits all. There are ample opportunities for creative thinking at all levels of government to increase fiber deployment and the exciting wired and wireless access options that stem from these builds. That is why our more than 150 members look forward to continued work in partnership with leaders at the local, state, and national levels.
