01. The Problem:
The Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) announced the$1.75 billion Universal Broadband Fund to support high-speed Internet projects across the country. The Universal Broadband Fund has been designed to fund broadband infrastructure projects that will bring high-speed Internet at 50/10 Megabits per second (Mbps) to rural and remote communities. Eligible applicants may apply for funding between November 9, 2020, and February 15, 2021.
Northumberland County needed a consultant to support its application process to the UBF program in terms of organizing, reviewing and integrating the data sets.
02. How we Helped:
NE&S experts supported the client in preparing submission packages, including mapping, network, costing, business planning, as well as the documentation of user benefits and community support. There are numerous steps in the application process, including but not limited to:
Pre-template Engineering & Costing Work
- NE&S worked with NC in finalizing its choice of technology platform(s) based on information received and to come from NC.
- NE&S assisted NC by reviewing the technology choices and costing from the point of view of the ISED funding review staff
- NE&S reviewed and provided input to NC the following:
- Logic network diagram,
- High-level pre-engineering plan containing all the network components,
- Map of the fibre routes/microwave links of the backbone network infrastructure,
- A geographic coverage map that includes all network components and partially and fully served hexagons.
- Rreview of the mapping information with NC and, in light of comments, production of the final document.
- NE&S reviewed the unit costing and final network costing estimates with appropriate breakouts for components based on ISED criteria.
- NE&S worked with NC to develop a draft GANTT chart, review this with NC and, in light of comments, produce the final GANTT.
Template Work
NE&S assisted NC in preparing the additional supporting documents specified in the Instruction Manual that needed to be attached to the application.
03. Impact:
NE&S’s professional support during the submission process helped Northumberland County submit a good quality application to ISED in a timely manner. Northumberland County secured $45M in combined federal an provincial funding to provide broadband connectivity to over 13,000 households.