Broadband Partnerships: For Many Communities, a Good Option at a Good Time

The United States must act aggressively to meet two core broadband challenges. One is to ensure that all Americans have affordable access to the Internet at levels sufficient to enable them to participate fully in modern life. The other is to ensure that all of America’s communities obtain the advanced communications capabilities they will need to survive and thrive in the increasingly competitive global economy. Broadband partnerships can play a vital role in meeting both of these challenges, especially by taking advantage of the substantial federal and state funds that are becoming available for these purposes. Recognizing the benefits of advanced communications capabilities, hundreds of communities—perhaps thousands— are exploring their options, including working with willing incumbents or new entrants, developing their own networks, creating regional consortia, or pursuing other creative alternatives. As many are realizing, a partnership of some kind may be their best choice, and perhaps even their only feasible one. With sizable federal and state funding now available and significantly more in the pipeline, partnerships are likely to become an even more attractive option. In this article, we examine the pros and cons of broadband partnerships, the key legal and regulatory considerations involved, the steps that local governments should take—and the questions they should ask—in analyzing, planning, and negotiating partnerships.