Broadband for Louisa County Building the Future
How Rural is Louisa? Louisa County 34,000 residents 14,000 households 511 square miles Fairfax County 1.1 million residents 400,000 households 406 square miles Density outside of population centers: < 60 residents per square mile Population density: 2,750 residents per square mile
Broadband Research and Planning Possible broadband distribution technologies: Possible business models: Fiber optic cable (in-ground or aerial) Wireless distribution options Existing telephone and cable TV cabling New coaxial cabling Power lines Passive investor Infrastructure provider Direct service provider
Broadband Research and Planning Possible broadband distribution technologies: Fiber optic cable (in-ground or aerial) Wireless distribution options Possible business models: Infrastructure provider
Fiber and Wireless Fiber Technological lifetime: 30 years Data capacity: very large (>10,000 Mbps) Middle-mile cost: $15,000 - $65,000/mile Last-mile cost: very high (linear) Wireless Technological lifetime: 5 years Data capacity: large (300-1,000 Mbps) Middle-mile cost: $1,000/mile Last-mile cost: low (non-linear)
Potential Partners Federal Grants (FCC, Senator Warner, etc.) State Grants (VHDA, DHCD, etc.) Private Grants Commercial Firms
Louisa Must Build Phase One Universal feedback from Federal, State, and Private entities
What is Phase One? Ten distribution towers: Middle-mile transport service: 180 height Power Network equipment Up to 10 vertical locations Downlink capability for wireline 3-mile local service radius Distribution service to local towers beyond 3 miles 300 Mbps initial capacity Expandable to 1,000 Mbps
Direct Return on Investment Direct revenues Minimal returns for co-location on towers Small returns for transport service Adequate to offset continued maintenance and operation Does not provide a direct investment return to Louisa County
Indirect Return on Investment Rural Louisa does not have Internet service Reduced desirability for prospective residents and businesses Loss of educational, commercial, and job opportunities for citizens Internet analogous to roads - 21 st century distribution Electronic textbooks B2B and B2C transactions Telecommuting Citizen engagement
Phase One Costs $1.1 million Capital Expense for construction
Phase One Projections Projected Annual Operational Expenses: $53,000 Projected Annual Revenues: $45,000 - $60,000
Phase One Bottom Line Wireless backhaul and lease revenues will not return the initial infrastructure investment to Louisa County
What about LCPS fiber? Louisa County Public Schools have requested federal funding for fiber construction between schools. If approved, LCBA could include fiber in their construction at a greatly-reduced cost. However, all construction costs associated with Phase One remain for last-mile distribution to consumers. Therefore, we do not consider fiber backhaul deployment a criticalpath Phase One step.
What is Phase Two? Option I: Wireless Provider Adoption: high Wired Provider Adoption: some Phase Two: Grant funding for fiber Option II: Wireless Provider Adoption: high Wired Provider Adoption: none Phase Two: Grant funding for fiber backhauls; use revenues to build local towers Option III: Wireless Provider Adoption: low Wired Provider Adoption: none Phase Two: Seek grants and publicprivate partnerships to increase wireless rollouts Option IV: Wireless Provider Adoption: minimal Wired Provider Adoption: none Phase Two: Seek grants and funding to provide service directly to residents and businesses in Louisa
What is Phase One? Proof-of-Commitment for federal, state, and private grants Middle-mile transport (backhaul) service from ten locations capable of blanketing Louisa County so that all residents can have access Flexible technological solution that incorporates potential service expansion from LCPS efforts and private entities Minimum Viable Investment Louisa County can make to reach Phase Two
Louisa County Broadband Authority We plan to request Phase One funding of $1.1 million from the Louisa County Board of Supervisors. Our charter is to increase access to broadband Internet for citizens of Louisa County. Our goal today is to ensure that the Board of Supervisors has the information it needs to make a funding decision.