Bridging the Gap – Mission Broadband’s Approach to Fiber Optic Network Design 

Challenge: The COVID-19 pandemic exposed a significant disparity in national access to high-speed internet, hindering the use of critical remote services such as telehealth and remote education. This unveiled a pre-existing “digital divide” that demanded immediate attention. In response, a historic level of federal funding has been allocated to bridge this gap and ensure nationwide broadband access for all unserved households. 

Solution: Mission Broadband’s Gap Analysis and Network Design services address a critical aspect of securing federal funding for broadband expansion initiatives. These services empower communities to identify underserved areas within their jurisdiction, as defined by FCC broadband access standards. This comprehensive analysis allows communities to develop targeted solutions and network designs, ultimately bridging the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to high-speed internet. 

Step 1: Gap Analysis – Identifying the Need 

• Leveraging Data: Mission Broadband utilizes the FCC’s Broadband Service Location (BSL) maps to identify areas lacking adequate internet access. 
• Visual Representation: A color-coded map is created, with each dot representing a location. Green indicates served locations, yellow denotes underserved areas, and red highlights unserved regions. 
• Detailed Reports: The report goes beyond the map, providing written descriptions of underserved and unserved areas for further analysis. 
• Competitive Landscape: Existing internet service providers (ISPs) and their technologies (fiber, copper, cable, wireless, satellite) are analyzed, along with the data speeds they offer. 
• Solution Options: Based on the analysis, Mission Broadband proposes potential technology and ISP options to bridge the identified gaps.

Step 2: High-Level Design – Building the Solution 

• Network Layout: The groundwork starts with meticulous mapping of the network layout, pinpointing potential cable locations. 
• Network Architecture: A multi-layered architecture is designed to optimize communication flow within the network. 
• Planning Phase: Critical decisions are made, including: 

• Network Topology: Analyzing network requirements and selecting the most suitable structure (star, mesh, bus). 
• Cable Infrastructure: Identifying optimal cable paths and termination points for efficient network operation. 
• Hardware Selection: Choosing appropriate hardware components like switches and routers to meet specific network demands. 
• Fiber Redundancy: Designing mechanisms for network continuity in case of component failure. 
• Performance & Capacity: Evaluating current and future data traffic demands to ensure sufficient bandwidth and capacity. 

• Project Management: Mission Broadband oversees vendors to ensure they adhere to project specifications and timelines. 
• Bridging the Gap: Complex technical designs are translated into understandable information for the client, facilitating clear communication throughout the process. 

Benefits: 

• Targeted Network Deployment: Gap analysis identifies areas with the greatest need for improved internet access, leading to efficient resource allocation. 
• Future-Proof Design: High-level design considers not only current but also future data demands, ensuring the network remains scalable and relevant. 
• Clear Communication: Mission Broadband bridges the gap between technical aspects and client understanding, fostering a collaborative project environment. 

Conclusion: 

Mission Broadband’s combined approach of gap analysis and high-level design fosters targeted fiber optic network deployments, addressing the critical need for improved internet access in underserved and unserved communities. This ensures efficient resource allocation, future-proof infrastructure, and clear communication throughout the project lifecycle.