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INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA ITiI=1IT, us] XIZ1bill �J TO: Jason E. Brown, County Administrator FROM: Dan Russell, Information Technology Director SUBJECT: Broadband Feasibility Study Proposal — Magellan Advisors DATE: May 12, 2021 BACKGROUND: The pandemic has created an environment in which many of the citizens of United States of America, including those in Indian River County, FL, have the need to work and/or attend school from their home. This situation makes reliable broadband communications from the home a requirement rather than a luxury for many people. Staff was asked to examine options for increasing the availability of broadband communications within Indian River County with a focus on rural and underserved areas of the County. ANALYSIS Staff has examined approaches taken by other communities as well as attended webinars focused on this topic. The approaches taken by others vary widely and are not yet mature enough to determine the success of any specific approach. Therefore, staff recommends conducting a feasibility study with the objective of determining low cost and effect ways for the County to improve the local broadband environment. The approach taken should first assess the existing environment to create a clear understanding of the current broadband supply and demand with specific focus on rural and underserved communities. The study should seek to identify the key broadband issues and gaps impacting Indian River County residents and business. The information collected should be used to create a broadband needs assessment and that assessment should be forward looking in it's consideration of Indian River County's community development, smart city and economic strategies that will require high-speed broadband communications as a part of their foundation. The study should detail the options for improving the broadband environment based on the available infrastructure assets, resources and public policy tools. The options provided should be based upon: 1. Alignment with Indian River County's vision and priorities 2. Benefits to each community 3. Total costs to the County and options for funding including Grants/Loans 4. Long term financial sustainability 5. Operational requirements 6. Technological risk 7. Participation of service providers 8. Competitive risk 9. Control 10. Probability of overall success Based on these criteria and others that may be discovered while the study is being conducted, the study should recommend the most feasible options with a roadmap and strategies for implementation of the most desirable options. Broadband Feasibility Study — Staff Report_20210512.docx 139