Ottawa County broadband internet initiative marches forward
Internet survey data being analyzed; county and partners prepare for next steps
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Since June 2021, Ottawa County - in collaboration with Merit Network, Inc. - has been surveying area residents and businesses to capture a more accurate picture of local high-speed internet access and connection speeds. This data includes - but is not limited to - households with access to broadband and those without; households struggling to pay for broadband; and the reliability of existing broadband networks. This survey and data collection effort is part of a larger Comprehensive Digital Inclusion Strategy, a four-part initiative to ultimately establish universal access to affordable and reliable broadband throughout Ottawa County.
"In order to effectively improve internet availability across the County, we needed to know where our gaps are in affordability and access," said Paul Sachs, director of Ottawa County's Department of Strategic Impact, which has spearheaded this initiative. "With this comprehensive data set, we can move further into Phase 2 of our Digital Inclusion Strategy."
"With this comprehensive data set, we can move further into Phase 2 of our Digital Inclusion Strategy."
Ottawa County Department of Strategic Impact Director Paul Sachs
Many economic opportunities exist for local governments to participate in broadband expansion - but to be considered, an area needs to demonstrate it is either unserved or underserved by broadband. Unfortunately, the data being used by the federal government in making these economic awards is based upon inaccurate FCC maps that illustrate broadband coverage across the country.
"Almost everybody in the industry agrees that this data is inaccurate. Even the FCC admits that the data is flawed," said Douglas Weber, president of Urban Wireless Solutions, Ottawa County's consultant in this initiative. "Because it will take significant time for the FCC to make improvements, it is critically important for a local government to undertake its own method of data collection sooner rather than later. With a more accurate picture of where the true coverage gaps are, we can ensure any applications for grant money can be properly evaluated."
Next steps: Analyzing the data, developing solutions
Merit Network has been diligently analyzing and compiling the data collected during last year's surveying efforts. Soon Merit will be presenting its findings to the Ottawa County Broadband Data Collection Steering Committee, Ottawa County officials, and Urban Wireless. With report in hand, Urban Wireless - with support from Ottawa County - will then develop a feasibility analysis, a preliminary engineering design, and a cost model.
Although it is early in the process, a likely solution may be developing a hybrid system that features the use of fiber and wireless technology in tandem to serve the entire County. "It is not economically feasible to lay fiber to every home and business across the County," said Weber of Urban Wireless. "If it was, you would have seen all of the major ISPs (internet service providers) doing so already. Furthermore, wireless technology has improved to the point where it is delivering internet speeds comparable to fiber and can be deployed in a more economically prudent manner."
"It is not economically feasible to lay fiber to every home and business across the County. If it was, you would have seen all of the major ISPs doing so already."
Douglas Weber, president of Urban Wireless Solutions
Public-private partnerships are key
The Digital Inclusion Strategy will also be heavily dependent upon the development of strong public/private partnerships. "With a project of this magnitude, Ottawa County cannot go it alone," said Paul Sachs. "We need to partner with internet service providers, fiber providers and equipment providers among others to bring this plan to fruition." Some preliminary discussions have been had with companies operating in the region; as the weeks go by, the County anticipates more companies will express interest in the initiative.
"We've been incredibly successful as a County in addressing some of our most pressing challenges through public-private partnerships," said Sachs. "Creating an equitable broadband landscape for all of our residents and businesses is no exception. It will require strong partnerships to shift the paradigm that has led us to where we are today. Access to reliable and affordable high-speed broadband is no longer a luxury; it is essential for our communities to thrive - not just for those in populated areas but also for those who live and work in our rural communities."
Network managed as a public-private partnership
Once the broadband network is developed, Ottawa County expects it will have an ownership interest. However, this does not mean the County is interested in operating its own broadband network. The County's interest would be that of deploying and owning the infrastructure, such as conduits to facilitate fiber lines, and towers where wireless is expected to be deployed. This infrastructure would then be leased to any providers that wish to sell their service in Ottawa County. Pursuing this model has potential benefits:
• It greatly reduces the amount of capital a service provider has to expend to provide broadband service in Ottawa County.
• It would likely keep prices reasonable by providing multiple service options and creating competition among the providers.
How will this work be funded?
Funding will come from a variety of resources. There are numerous grants, including ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) and the recently enacted Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), just to name a few. The specific grants for which Ottawa County is eligible depends in large part upon the results of its data collection. It is also not beyond the realm of possibility that the County could look to its constituents for some contributions.
"We realize that our broadband plan is ambitious and that there is a great amount of work still needing to be done. The real hard work is just beginning."
Ottawa County Department of Strategic Impact Director Paul Sachs
About Ottawa County
Positioned in the southwestern half of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, Ottawa County is just 150 miles from Chicago and 174 miles from Detroit, making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and vacationers alike. Besides Lake Michigan beaches and boating activities, Ottawa offers 307 miles of rivers and streams, two state parks, and over 5,000 acres of county parks and open space lands for visitors and locals to enjoy.
While being a popular recreation spot boosts the local economy, Ottawa County's true economic drivers are manufacturing and agriculture. Ottawa is home to numerous global companies in the automotive and food processing sectors as well as many small entrepreneurial startups in a variety of industries. The County's agriculture sector is equally as diverse; its more than 1,000 farms include orchards and other fruit growing operations; row crops such as corn and soybeans; dairy, poultry, and pork production; as well as other vegetable farming.
Crops aren't the only things growing here - between 2010-2020, Ottawa County's population rose over 12 percent, making it the fastest growing in the state. With strong industry, two highly rated institutions of higher education (Grand Valley State University and Hope College), low unemployment rates, and a high quality of life, Ottawa County is an attractive place to visit, settle, and do business. Tying it all together via broadband connectivity, along with a connected workforce, will make Ottawa County a premium location to live, work and relax.
"We realize that our broadband plan is ambitious and that there is a great amount of work still needing to be done," said Sachs. "The real hard work is just beginning."
For more information on Ottawa County's Digital Inclusion Strategy and how to participate, check the Digital Inclusion website often or contact the Ottawa County Department of Strategic Impact at plan@miottawa.org or Douglas Weber of Urban Wireless Consultants at douglas.weber@urbanwireless.us
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