Nextlink, Ting, Calix dish on the dos and don’ts of fiber funding

It feels like broadband funding is flying at operators from left, right and center. But how does a provider figure out which funding source is the right fit, and what do they need to know about applying for and actually spending that money? A panel comprised of experts from Nextlink, Ting Internet, Calix, Fujitsu, and COS Systems tackled the ins and outs of the funding landscape. Here are the top takeaways from the session:

• DON'T - Expect all forms of funding to be created equal: There are several different sources of funding on the table for operators at the moment. Patrick Mulhearn, director of Public Policy and Community Engagement at Ting, said the choice of which to pursue will depend on what exactly an operator is trying to accomplish – and how quickly. All in all public and private money come with “very different ways of looking at operating as an [broadband provider],” said Nextlink CSO Claude Aiken.
• DO - Engage with stakeholders early and often: Jessica Koch is the Broadband Program Manager at Calix said that when it comes to public money, there’s usually a multi-step process involved before the grants go out to bid. And if an ISP hasn’t engaged with the local community and policymakers before the application window opens, “it’s too late oftentimes because of the amount of work that goes into planning for and pitching your story for that build.”
• DON'T - Expect things to move fast: There’s an old adage that the gears of government turn slowly and that holds true when it comes to broadband funding. Operators looking into public funding should expect something of a wait.
• DO - Read the fine print: No entity – public or private – is going to hand over thousands or millions of dollars to an operator without expecting something in return. And when it comes to broadband funding, those expectations in many cases are quite specific when it comes to things like deployment timelines, revenue and reporting requirements. Public money can also come with requirements related to specific supply and labor procurement processes, the panel noted.
• TOP TAKEAWAY - Be prepared: All the panelists agreed work on a project begins well before money is awarded. Due to the strings attached to broadband funding, it’s key for operators to try to prepare as much as possible and eliminate as much risk as possible before an award is made.