This presentation was delivered at NADO's 2018 Annual Training Conference, held in Charlotte, NC on October 13-16. For more information, visit: https://www.nado.org/events/2018-annual-training-conference/

2. “Without direct and focused
investment in this infrastructure,
the region will slip further behind
the rest of the state's technology
advancements.” – Basic Tenet, Land of
Sky Regional Broadband Initiative

3. 2015
Broadband Identified as Priority for Economic Development

4. WestNGN Partnership formed to incentivize high-
speed broadband investments among the most
urbanized communities in the region along the
current available public networks.
Partners included:
• UNC-Asheville
• NC State University
• NC Broadband Office
• Community Stakeholders
• Education and Research Consortium (ERC)
• Lenoir-Rhyne University - Asheville
• Asheville-Buncombe County Economic
Development Coalition
• Southwestern Commission
Six Cities

5. Middle-Mile Network

6. Phase I
2016
•73 leaders hosted by UNCA to learn of Next Generation Network
in RTP
•6 Municipalities agree to form West Next Generation Network
Phase I
Spring 2017
•2nd regional gathering of 83 leaders explored future technology
needs
•Community profiles developed
•Broadband-friendly policies agreed upon
Phase I
Summer 2017
•Request for Negotiation (RFN) released in August
•Future of Technology visioning document developed by Lenoir
Rhyne & UNCA

7. Phase I
Fall 2017
•7 proposals reviewed
•6 firms interviewed
Phase I
Spring 2018
•Hotwire (Asheville, Waynesville)
•RiverStreet (Biltmore Forest, Fletcher, Hendersonville, Laurel Park)
•Charter for current services
Phase I
May 2018
•Summit at UNCA to introduce firms
•Firms assess market opportunities
•Combine WestNGN Phase I & Phase II

8. Phase II Winter
2018
•Regional Broadband Summit (January 2019)
•Community profiles for Phase II
Phase II
Spring 2018
•Asset mapping – vertical and horizontal assets
•Regional Broadband Survey
Phase II
Summer/Fall 2018
•Identify priority locations for connections to under-served
communities
•Create Deployment Plan

9. Continue
partnership
with ERC
Focus on rural,
less urbanized
areas
Form sector-
specific
partnerships
Next Steps

10. Lessons Learned
Economic
Development,
Not
Technology
Get the Right
People in the
Room & the
Wrong Ones
Out
Partnership,
Partnership,
Partnership
Keep Focus on
the BHAG

11. Justin Hembree
justin@landofsky.org
828.251.6622