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| Rural Communications
Development |
CTC has served the rural public sector and the public
interest since 1983 in the development of communications
strategies for rural communities.
Rural America faces a particular dearth of broadband
and, in many cases, even cellular, service. The lack
of service in rural areas is often substantially worse
than in suburban and urban areas. CTC works with rural
communities and agencies to evaluate the cost and
feasibility of deploying municipal networks and of
attempting to create incentives to lure private carrier
deployment.
For example, CTC assists rural clients to develop
infrastructure blueprints and strategies with the
objective of encouraging the expansion and enhancement
of cellular telephone and broadband connectivity services.
In some cases, the purpose of these strategies is
for rural communities or public entities to become
retail communications service providers – in
others, the purpose is for the community to facilitate
a reduction or removal of barriers to market entry
for new and enhanced connectivity services.
Many of these projects are intended to help the community
understand and address the industry’s perception
of market and other barriers that the industries believe
should limit their deployment; understand their perception
of potential incentives to encourage deployment of
broadband and cellular facilities; and understand
their perceived price points and market shares required
to meet cash flow objectives for their required investments.
In developing strategies to spur private investment,
CTC evaluates such market barriers as:
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Cost and approval time to gain
access to public rights of way
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Ability to access existing structures
such as water towers and street lamps for antenna
mounting
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Cost of deploying towers and
other facilities required to support cell sites
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Cost and availability of high-speed
connectivity services among towers and other facilities
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Availability and affordability
of existing infrastructure controlled by the incumbent
telephone and cable television providers
Based on this analysis, CTC develops strategies for
changes in municipal policy and/or public investment
in infrastructure that can be leased by private carriers.
These strategies are all designed to lower the costs
and barriers to entry and thereby to encourage private
sector investment.
In developing strategies for municipal deployment
and/or municipal ownership, CTC prepares strategic
“blueprints” that can serve as a guide
for further steps in deploying communications infrastructure.
Our strategic plans address such areas as:
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Cellular service
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Wired broadband infrastructure
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Wireless infrastructure capable
of supporting emerging wireless broadband technologies
(including WiFi, WiMax, and provider solutions
such as EvDO)
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Expansion and upgrade of the
community’s existing network resources and
other assets (such as utility and light poles,
rights-of-way, towers, hill-tops, and staffing)
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Cost of infrastructure and
payback period relative to leased services
- Network design that can be cost-effectively expanded
for economic, commercial, or residential use if
desired
- Potential purchase or lease options regarding
existing or planned fiber from private entities
- Deployment, operations, and maintenance costs
for the recommended strategies
- Preliminary fee structures to assist in cost recovery
- Analysis of the potential of intangible benefits,
such as economic development
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CTC: Telecommunication Systems Engineering |
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