{"id":12740,"date":"2024-09-24T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-24T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zayo.zayowebservers.com\/?post_type=resources&p=12740"},"modified":"2024-09-20T14:53:15","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T20:53:15","slug":"creative-collaboration-brings-middle-mile-broadband-to-nevada","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/zayoustrans.burbledev.com\/es\/resources\/creative-collaboration-brings-middle-mile-broadband-to-nevada\/","title":{"rendered":"Creative Collaboration Brings Middle Mile Broadband to Nevada\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Middle Mile Private Public Partnership Brings Broadband to Nevada<\/em>
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Nevada\u2019s rugged beauty is celebrated in the state\u2019s official song which paints a vivid picture of  \u201cmountains towering high\u201d and a place where the \u201cdesert meets the hills.\u201d The diverse landscape is a source of pride, but it also presents unique challenges, particularly in terms of Internet connectivity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While more than 99 percent of Nevada residents have access to broadband service at or above the FCC standard according to research for the Nevada Governor\u2019s Office of Science, Innovation, and Technology (OSIT)<\/a>, only 66 percent of Nevada\u2019s rural areas enjoy the same level of service. Nevada ranks 35th in broadband connectivity among all 50 states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zayo is tackling Nevada\u2019s digital divide head-on with its $153-million middle mile network project.<\/a> We\u2019re building over 800 miles of fiber optic infrastructure to enable broadband access in communities across the state. This initiative will connect 40,000 unserved or underserved locations throughout Nevada \u2013 from homes and hospitals to schools and community anchor institutions \u2013 thanks to creative funding allocations from Nevada\u2019s Office of Science, Innovation, and Technology (OSIT), supported by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) U.S. Department of Treasury. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s how Zayo is addressing the unique geographical and logistical challenges of the middle mile infrastructure build in Nevada with a powerful combination of creativity and collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nature\u2019s challenges<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Low population density is a hurdle to providing broadband service in some parts of Nevada. Though it\u2019s the seventh largest state, Nevada ranks thirty-second in population<\/a> size. Remoteness is another issue, with an average distance of over 50 miles between cities along Nevada\u2019s major rural corridors. This sparse subscriber base makes it tough for ISPs to justify the high cost of building last-mile infrastructure to reach them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevada\u2019s topography presents its own particular challenges, especially when installing fiber in the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProbably the biggest terrain issue we\u2019re having is right along I-80 between Reno and halfway to Wells. It literally has a cliff on one side and a river on the other side. It\u2019s a two-lane road and the right of way is fairly minimal. Plus, dealing with rocky soil and cliffs is no fun when you\u2019re trying to bore underground,\u201d says Sonya Roshek, Director of Long Haul Implementation at Zayo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to this unique terrain, buried fiber installation costs $22 to $35 per foot in Nevada according to OSIT research, much higher than the national average of $15 to $20. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regulatory and permitting challenges <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To install fiber, Roshek\u2019s team must also navigate various regulations involving tribal lands, environmental impact, wildlife protection, historical conservation, and archeological preservation. This requires permits that fall under state, local, or federal jurisdiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo state other than maybe Alaska has as much federal land as we do,\u201d notes Brian Mitchell, director of the Nevada Broadband Office at OSIT. \u201cNevada is about 84 percent federal land. That presents a big challenge because everywhere we go, especially with the middle mile project, you\u2019re dealing with a whole host of permitting processes across multiple federal agencies.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides permitting issues, there\u2019s also a time crunch at play since federal grant funding for parts of the project expires by the end of 2026. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGetting environmental and other approvals could take as long as six to nine months or up to a year-and-a-half, which puts us right at a point of serious issues with construction,\u201d Roshek explains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Creative problem solving <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If anyone can calmly steer this complex project toward completion, it\u2019s Roshek. Long before joining Zayo, she oversaw fiber ring telecom installations for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics<\/a>. It gave her valuable experience in collaborating with multiple stakeholders to solve complicated problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to Zayo\u2019s middle mile construction project for the State of Nevada middle mile, Zayo\u2019s problem-solving strategies include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n