Planning and Engagement: A MetroNet in Ten Easy Steps

2. Evaluate your community needs regarding broadband services. Before getting going, you need to evaluate your options, and this is the point where it makes sense to spend a little money for a custom initial evaluation. Contact MetroNetIQ Consulting today to learn more about a custom initial evaluation. You may also browse the Vendor Directory on the right side of this website for other resources. At this early stage, be sure not to spend too much, or take too much time - the key at this point is to set a direction and get moving.

3. Produce and file a preliminary plan to make government policymakers aware of your actions and intentions. In some states, such notice is required and delay could have consequences. In any case, filing a short preliminary plan has minimal downside and may result in help being offered your way. You can file the preliminary plan with your state's Public Utility Commission and copy your state legislators and US Congressman and Senator (use these links to locate your state's regulatory and legislative contact info). As you move along, help out long-term public policy by filing a more detailed plan with your state's Public Utility Commission and copy your state and federal legislative representatives. Be sure to state the benefits you expect to accrue and why you are proceeding in the manner you have selected.

4. Get on the same page with other community leaders with a Regional Collaboration Event. Take time out to listen - it may change your perspective for the better. Listen to an expert as recommended above, listen to your peers, listen to the neighboring city leaders in your region, and solicit the views of the entire community (see below). All this listening will pay off in the long run. Use the Regional Collaboration guidelines on this website, and contact MetroNetIQ Consulting for help and advice on regional collaboration, our strong suit.

5. Launch a Pilot Program. At some point, all the studying, talking, and listening will make you ready to dip your toe in the water. By installing a pilot network, ideally in partnership with a private sector partner, you will demonstrate to your community the real aspects of a MetroNet. For those less-informed than you active network planners, a Pilot is necessary to generate the awareness and understanding that will be necessary to continue, benefiting both the insider community and the greater community at large. Stay tuned to the blogs on this website, which will describe my work on the Pilot networks in Austin and Round Rock.

6. Broaden your community base of support. Having informed your planning team on the subject at hand, and evaluated your need and solution options, and the regional perspective, it's time to seek community input and determine a plan of attack. By making sure that you have as many community leaders on board for any plan you undertake, you will face less opposition than you might otherwise, and your network will meet more of the needs of your community. I recommend you review this short How To article on settng up a community blog as a great way of interacting with your community as you go through the planning process.

7. Determine your business model. First and foremost, I recommend you check in with your local electric utility for partnering possiblities. See the example of Go Moorhead. Align with technology partners, or better yet, with a system integrator, to ensure project success (See the Vendor Directory). Factors that will drive your decision include the risk profile of your city management, available funds, existing network assets, difficulty of potential network installation, in-house assets and skills for ongoing maintenance and operations, and partnering options with electric utilities and private sector providers.

8. Prioritize the implementation of broadband applications that will become available from your new MetroNet. Initiate those services that accelerate your return on investment (ROI) first. See the Application Vendors in the Vendor Directory for ideas and to stimulate dialogue.

9. Determine a funding strategy. While there will be a capital expense associated with the deployment, it is likely that a Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) or Network Operator is willing to share the burden or bear all of the burden, in exchange for having an anchor client and customer for municipal services. Assess your capital budget possibilities. What is the temperature in your community for this network? See the Funding Options in the Vendor Directory.

10. Spread the word in your community. Begin to educate interest groups within your community on the coming changes and future service availability. Discuss the impact with your community and answer questions. Reference www.MetroNetIQ.com and other websites to spread the word and raise the level of awareness in your community.

11. Launch your plan, use someone else's network, build your network. It's time to go, finally. Whether you take advantage of a motivated private provider who has already built a network, or you initiate network construction in partnership with a private provider (acting as an anchor tenant with a long-term services contract), join with other cities for a regional network, or build your own network, you've engaged in a prudent decision-making process and you can relax knowing that you've done the best a city leader can do.

12. Enjoy the benefits and brag on your success. Controlling your own destiny and taking advantage of the new network becomes a virtuous circle. Establish a standing committee to take input from the community on new and innovative ways of providing city services. Broad, intentional community planning will enable greater value to be reaped from this new network sooner. This is a great time to further leverage your communiity blog, as well as the MetroNetIQ on-line community. As more cities and towns implement MetroNets, the cost of equipment will be driven down, the technology will advance more rapidly, and new applications will be developed; all of these factors will increase the value of your new network.