Difficulty, however, remains substantial for nonprofit efforts, a scale challenge that existing commercial telecom providers will frequently emphasize.
Right now, Community Media is trying to pull together $3 million for the first phase of its network plans, which would serve about 1,200 homes throughout Adams County. The project leaders cite a good deal of upfront expenses, with planning studies running as much as $50,000. They already won some grant money over the last two years and worked with firms to complete a feasibility study. Engineers have given estimates it’ll cost $15,000 to $30,000 per mile to lay fiber-optic cable. The total cost for the county may wind up ranging between $50 million to $100 million, Gouker estimated.
Such infrastructure, they say, could revitalize the corridor, helping to lay broadband along a local highway serving many adjacent businesses as well…
