Communities can’t afford to wait for the federal government to obtain next gen broadband

[Commentary] Communities should study and emulate the number of models of community-led broadband upgrades that clearly improve the math for investment in next-generation networks, regardless of the public or private delineation. Yet choosing an upgrade model will not be simple; communities should reflect their preferences between certain trade-offs, from control and risk to scale through aggregation or local control. Yet the multitude of new alternatives creates the best opportunity yet for communities to control their gigabit destiny. As is always true with local economic development, help begins with self-help. Communities that have organized themselves to improve the math for investment have often succeeded in seeing that investment follow. Those who have sat back and waited for the market or the federal government to help are largely still waiting today and are likely to continue to be waiting for some time to come. One can hope that markets or the federal government will address everything, but for many communities, their own action is what really will count. 

[Blair Levin is a nonresident senior fellow with the Metropolitan Policy Program. He oversaw the development of the National Broadband Plan.]