- Financing municipal broadband networks is no cakewalk, with opposition from incumbents and interest groups adding to the difficulties
- But community leaders in Ohio and Vermont say they’ve succeeded in running financially stable networks
- Hiring the right expertise is key if municipalities want to maximize their chances at success getting financing. Like most internet service providers, municipalities face their fair share of challenges when building broadband networks. Particularly, they need to convince financiers that it’s a worthwhile investment.
Constant opposition from incumbents and lobbying groups doesn’t help matters. A recent study from ITIF claimed public broadband networks have “poor financing models,” noting most of the municipalities it analyzed earned less than their operating costs.
fierce-network.com
By Masha Abarinova
Feb 21, 2025