Bridging the Digital Divide in the Rural Northwest. Access Consulting of Missoula helps bring Broadband to 16 underserved communities in North Central Idaho.

In February 2005, Access Consulting of Missoula, Montana http://www.access-consulting.net/ was retained by the Clearwater Economic Development Association of Lewiston, Idaho http://www.clearwater-eda.org/ to develop engineering plans for bringing broadband telecommunications services to 16 underserved communities in North Central Idaho.

These communities, ranging in population from less than 100 to 1200, have little or no access to broadband internet services due to remote location, aging telecommunications infrastructure and sparse population. Recognizing the direct link between telecommunications and economic survival for these communities, the economic development agencies for the four counties applied for and received a grant to develop technology plans to bring broadband services to these communities.

Paul DeWolfe, President and Principal Consultant for Access, is leading the study effort. The study methodology involves first developing a clear understanding of the community demographics, geography, topography, economics, and the existing telecommunications infrastructures. Based on this data and an understanding of the technologies available to address the needs of the communities, Access will identify the most promising immediately available solutions for each community. The one-time and recurring costs and possible business models for cost recovery will be defined. Next, Access will identify the most promising emerging technologies and define a five– and ten-year evolutionary plan to help each community expand their capabilities.

The challenges of this project are many. The sparse population does not fit current business models used by telecommunications providers to determine where they can profitably provide service. The rugged terrain and remote locations have prevented the legacy providers from building the backhaul infrastructure required for broadband in many of the communities. And what infrastructure is available is aging and often incapable of supporting broadband traffic. Unique solutions, many applicable to rural communities everywhere, are required to overcome these challenges.

Fortunately, new operational paradigms and emerging technologies are becoming available that can help these communities bridge the “Digital Divide”. Technologies such as WiMax and meshed wireless are just now entering the marketplace and show real potential for providing low-cost backhaul and last mile solutions. New business models such as public/private partnerships and municipally provided services are replacing the traditional provider scenarios in small communities across the United States.

The first key to success in each of these communities will be combining the right business model with the appropriate technology. In the most remote communities, the solution may take the form of a non-profit public/private partnership using satellite internet as a backhaul and WiFi wireless or cable modem technology for last mile distribution. In larger communities with adequate backhaul capacity from the local telephone company, the solution may be a traditional T-1 circuit shared by a home grown wireless network for last mile distribution.

In other communities, there may be the opportunity to develop buried infrastructure (fiber optic cabling) as part of a water or sewer project to address last mile issues. In each case, the key to success is to provide the local community with the knowledge and tools to develop their own solution if one is not available from the traditional providers.

The second key to success is to encourage providers to reach out to these communities by developing the user base and demonstrating the viability of operations in smaller locales. Towns which have only a single provider with only a single solution (wireless, DSL or other) will benefit greatly by the development of a competitive second source. The most obvious benefit will be downward pressure on price. But the less obvious benefit of a competitive technology will be greater availability, reliability and coverage of the community. Underserved communities can achieve this diversity of sources either by developing their own service or by partnering with alternative providers to introduce second sources to their community.

The North Central Idaho study will provide the 16 participating communities with the tools and knowledge they need to introduce new or improve existing broadband services. These services will, in turn, enable the communities to access larger markets, advertise local resources to a larger target audience, and provide the basic services required to attract new businesses.