Building a Foundation for Broadband and Economic Development

Last week we explored the value of creating co-ops and nonprofit organizations to make broadband deployment more affordable and beneficial for constituents. Today's interview presents a third option for better broadband, community foundations.

Sharon Stroh is Dir. of Business Development for iMAN, a supporting organization of the Steuben County Community Foundation (SCCF). iMAN is a countywide project that not only delivers fiber broadband infrastructure, it also raises funds for grants and contributions to economic development projects.

This particular business strategy leads to financial sustainability of networks, greater community control that increases broadband benefits to constituents and a funding source for economic programs. Communities also avoid many of the political battles with incumbents that eat up time and resources.