Want To Become a Broadband Service Provider? Start With These 5 Fundamentals

Broadband connectivity has become essential to our everyday lives. According to a U.S. News & World Report in August 2023, 85 percent of Americans go online every day—including 31 percent who describe their usage as “almost constantly.” It’s also integral to our socio-economic future—the availability of broadband attracts new companies, enables new, higher-paying jobs, and boosts real estate values by 3.1 percent.

However, even with massive federal, state, and local funding being poured into broadband infrastructure projects, about one in five U.S. households don’t have internet.

There is a huge opportunity for new service providers—like electric cooperatives, tribes, and municipalities—to build broadband networks that will transform communities and ensure economic growth and vitality for generations to come.

Broadband Academy: The Roadmap You Need To Build Your Broadband Service

Of course, the path from electricity provider or municipality to broadband service provider (BSP) is not always straightforward or easy. That’s why Calix created Broadband Academy. We’re providing the education, training, guidance, and best practices that will help you make the transition to BSP—through self-guided educational content you’ll learn the ins and outs of connecting your community with broadband.

In the first Broadband Academy course, Broadband Services Fundamentals, we share the foundations of building a successful broadband service. Here are five key insights you’ll gain as you take this initial step in becoming a BSP.

Explore the key stages of broadband service deployment. Calix has worked with 75 percent of electric cooperatives, 60 percent of tribally-owned BSPs, and 71 percent of municipalities that have launched broadband services. We use this experience to guide your journey to becoming a BSP. The first lesson in the Fundamentals course will walk you through the key stages of planning and growing your broadband service: fund, design, build, operate, and market.
Learn how broadband networks work. We rely on broadband networks for everything from remote work and online learning to telemedicine and multiplayer gaming. But how does broadband really work? Register to gain an overview of the key components of a broadband network and the responsibilities you’ll have as a network operator.
Evaluate the connectivity options to determine the best approach for your build. Broadband network technologies include fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, and wireless. Which is the right one for your deployment? Learn the pros and cons of each connectivity option to future proof your network for subscribers today and tomorrow.
Scope your project with a comprehensive feasibility study. It is critical to conduct a thorough assessment of your broadband project and the service area. By researching and analyzing the full landscape, you’ll better understand the business value and viability of your network. Register now to learn more about feasibility studies and the resources you’ll need.
Identify the partners you’ll need to achieve broadband success. Building a broadband service from the ground up is a complex undertaking, even for organizations that have previous experience as service providers. The good news is you don’t have to go this alone. Review the different types of partners and learn best practices for identifying and engaging with them, from outside plant designers and network engineers to technology/subscriber experience partners and marketing consultants.

Many electric cooperatives, tribes, and municipalities are already stepping up to fill the broadband gap—delivering high-speed internet and value-added services to unserved and underserved markets across the country. Take the next step for your community.

To learn more about what it takes to successfully fund, design, build, operate, and market broadband services, sign up for Broadband Academy.