Post on 29-Jun-2015
Rural Community Broadband
INCA Event28th February 2012
Background• Government objective: “best superfast
broadband in Europe by 2015”• Market expected to deliver to around 70% of
country but not “final third”• Broadband Strategy launched with £530m
Government funding to deliver:– Superfast broadband to around 90% of the
population– A 2 Mbps universal service commitment to
everyone
What is the RCBF?• Rural Community Broadband Fund– £20M joint DEFRA and BDUK fund– Support communities in the final 10% wanting
more than “basic broadband”
RCBF & Local Broadband Plans
• RCBF extends the scope of community engagement
• Proposals should be endorsed by– A majority of the
premises in the target area
– A local accountable body (e.g. Parish Council)
– The Local Authority
Community
Industry
Publ
ic Se
ctorRCBF
Who Can Apply?
• E.g. Cooperatives, Companies Limited by Guarantee or Community Interest Companies
Community Enterprises
Charities
• On behalf of communities• Includes Parish Councils
Local Authorities
• Beneficiaries, not individual Communications Provider businesses• E.g. Groups of local private businesses
Other Local Partnerships
RCBF is “superfast” only!
• Extending Local Broadband Plans• Delivering national infrastructure• It is not to support temporary solutions
Taking superfast broadband further & deeper
• The fund is technology neutral• Projects may choose any combination of “NGA” technologies• Individual satellite services are excluded• Compliance with industry standards is required
Superfast means at least 24 to 30 Mbps
Where & How much?
• Support sustainable business plans in the hardest areas
• Funding will need to be at least matched by private investment
• There is a limit of £300 per premise connected
Where’s the match funding?
Those who will receive the service
committing to pay a connection charge
Those committing to receive the service
for a minimum period at a set cost
Community share offers and other forms of community investment
An openly procured Network Operator
committing funds to the project
Private family trusts
Etc, etc.
(this isn’t exhaustive!)
The toolkit
• Will become a living web-based resource• Pointers to existing guidance & material– INCA Beyond Broadband bit.ly/ulnx4d– FttH Council Business Guide bit.ly/uHO1iB– Erisa Broadband Portal bit.ly/uENpgc– Rural Broadband Partnership bit.ly/vrIdOu
FROM CAMPAIGN TO SOLUTION
Establish
Demographic Analysis
Business Planning
Decision Point!
High-level Engineering
Detailed Engineering
GO!
EoI to RCBF
Full Submission
to RCBF
High-level Process
Keys to success
• A solid business plan• A reliable network• A basic set of services• Customer care• A local set of services• Communication• An “us feeling”
• Only 1 is technical• Only 3 or 4 are a forte
of traditional operators• 4 relate to your
community!
* Kees Rover’s 7-pillars
Who buys when
Innovators2.5%
Early Adopters13.5%
Early Majority34%
Late Majority34%
Laggards16%
This is where speed sells
This is where services and engagement sell
Diffusion of ideas
Capacity & Capability
Community Capability
Com
mun
ity In
vest
men
t Cap
acity
Demand Aggregation
DIY
Build & Benefit
Concession
Partnership
Using LA Partners
CommunityEnterprise
Do Nothing
#1 Demand Aggregation
• The community decides it wishes to have more than the minimum
• The community works to– Improve quality of the
solution from a minimum in-fill solution to an NGA based solution
– Confirm actionable verifiable demand in support of the case for more investment
Upside Downside
May not achieve NGA
No control over the solution
May achieve NGA
No additional cost to
community
With LA Partners
#2 Build & Benefit
• Community is willing to help deliver NGA– E.g. civil engineering,
way-leaves or additional funding
• Community happy that RoI is gained from benefitting from an improved service
• Open Access & ISPs delivered by LA partner
Upside Downside
Significant sweat equity or cash
with no commercial return
Limited say in the solution
Will deliver NGA
No additional risk
With LA Partners
#3 Partnership
• The community want to raise some of the risk capital & expect an investment return
• Partners are needed to– Provide additional
investment– Build & operate the network
• Open Access & ISPs delivered by partners
• Investment and Exit plans need to be considered
Upside Downside
Will deliver NGA
Influence the over strategy
Investment return
Community risk
Community Organisation
#4 Concession
• The community are able to raise all the risk finance
• They have no ambition to be a network operator
• A concession is offered by the community to design, build and operate their network
• The community must steer strategic decisions
• Open Access &ISPs delivered by the concession partner
• Investment and Exit plans need to be considered
Upside Downside
Will deliver NGA
Total strategic control
Partners mitigate risk
Final responsibility
Significant investment required
Community Organisation
#5 DIY
• The community are able to raise all of the finance
• They have a strong desire to be the network operator
• The community design, build & operate their own network
• Open Access & Service Providers delivered by the community
• Investment and Exit plans need to be considered
Upside Downside
All of the risk with no mitigation
Heavy continuing commitment
Challenging to deliver open access
Difficult exit strategy
Will deliver NGA
Community Organisation
How do I apply?
Submit an Expression of Interest to your
local RDPE Lead
Rounds• Round 1 – closed 31st
January 2012• Round 2 – to be
announced, planned to open May 2012
EOI will require you to demonstrate that:• Your are likely to be
within the final 10%• There is sufficient local
need & demand• There is the capacity to
deliver reasonable value for money
If successful, you will be invited to prepare
a Full Application within an agreed
timescale
Thank you!
Adrian Woosteradrian@wooster.org.uk07788 167776