Rules Are Set For Applying For Broadband Stimulus Funds With A Short Deadline of August 14th

Support from Wireless 20/20 Can Help The Process Be Successful

The NTIA and RUS have set the rules for applying for funding for the $7.2B that is being made available through the two agencies. The application process is based on a scoring system which requires each applicant to provide detailed information in four categories:

1. Project Purpose
2. Project Benefits
3. Project Viability
4. Project Budget and Sustainability

With the requirements for an accurate budget estimation and complete business case being worth a quarter of the total scoring points, NTIA is looking for a each applicant to include a Third party Budget Review, Business Plan sustainability, Market projections, key assumptions, best use of matching funds and in kind contributions. They want compliant applications satisfying eligibility requirements, ready for due diligence review and subsequent compliance audits. All of this detail must be part of applications for the first round which are due on August 14th, leaving potential applicants with a lot of work to do in the next few weeks.

As the due dates for applications quickly approaches, Wireless 20/20 can provide a systematic strategic capability to market and service modeling, business case modeling and analysis, and broadband stimulus funding application drafting.

Wireless 20/20 support services fall into three areas:

1) Strategy and expertise in helping wireless operators and their partners complete their BTOP/RUS funding applications.
2) Analytical support for each unserved or underserved market included in funding proposals, either directly or indirectly through affiliates.
3) Business development support to help wireless operators develop public-private partnerships and affiliate programs which may be necessary or advantageous for certain markets where they are submitting applications.

Wireless 20/20, the Broadband Experts

Wireless 20/20 LLC, a US based independent market research and consulting company, is well positioned to provide timely and comprehensive advisory services for wireless operators and their partners at all stages of the ARRA NTIA and RUS broadband funding programs. Wireless 20/20 provides resources and expertise that can help wireless operators and their partners to develop their broadband network strategy, provide assistance in the application process, and support their team with analytical expertise and tools.

Funding Application Development Support

Wireless 20/20, working with its partners, can provide guidance and support in helping wireless operators develop strong applications maximizing chances of funding. With a strong understanding of the process and the final rules as they have been published, Wireless 20/20 will be able to guide applicants in the process, presentation, and content of their applications to ensure the most favorable review possible for each application. With short deadlines in place, Wireless 20/20 resources, expertise, and methodologies can help an operator complete their application on time.

Budget and Business Case Development Support

Wireless 20/20 can provide direct support in developing the detailed budget and business case analysis that must be part of each ARRA funding package. Using the Wireless 20/20 WiROI™ Business Case Analysis Tool, our team will develop a business case template for broadband market deployments. The complete 10-year business case makes use of a customer-specific operating model of network coverage and capacity, core network and services.

The requirements of the application process require that each application have a detailed budget. By developing a detailed business case, the operator can show the following in the application:

- The exact amount required for investment in the network deployment
- How much additional equity investment is needed
- A detailed model for operational expenses
- The revenue estimates for the business case, and market projections and assumptions back up the data.
- The “but for” analysis showing the business case of the deployment without funding.
- The effect of funding on the business case, and the viability of the post-funded business
- Have a template for subsequent due diligence and compliance review.

Further, the ARRA version of the WiROI™ Tool implements a special investment module which allows a thorough analysis of the business case for each market accounting for various grant and loan levels. The scoring criteria requires each applicant show that the project supports the “but for” requirement. This means that an applicant must show that without funding the project would not be viable, but with funding the project will be a profitable on-going concern. The WiROI™ Tool is ideal for demonstrating this clearly.

Sample WiROI™ Business Case Tool Results for Rural Broadband Deployments

without funding

WiROI™ Business Case Results Without Stimulus Funding.

with funding

WiROI™ Business Case Results With Stimulus Funding.

In addition to the business case modeling, key success factors in the other scoring categories can be quantified and modeled for each target market, such as broadband service expansion, job creation and economic development.

Partnership Development Support

Wireless 20/20 offers assistance in developing public-private partnerships for markets where it may be advantageous or necessary as part of the application process. Our team can help develop the strategy, structure and funding requirements of such public-private agreements, and support wireless operators in their efforts to build agreements with state and municipal agencies. Support for public-private partnerships also gain additional points in the application process. Also, consultation with the states is performed in the subsequent steps as part of the BTOP grant review and approval process.

In addition, Wireless 20/20 offers business development expertise in the wireless market. Our extensive knowledge of the emerging domestic and international broadband wireless markets will help operators further develop their affiliate programs. By helping to develop a comprehensive presentation package which outlines the program’s goals and benefits to potential partners, Wireless 20/20 will work with clients to outline their business structure, service offering options, network deployment plans, core network service offerings and architectures, and spectrum requirements. Wireless 20/20 can also help recruit partner operators to participate in these programs.

The business case development, financial analysis, and partnership development expertise of Wireless 20/20 can provide your team with a full range of services needed to complete a successful broadband stimulus funding application. By adding Wireless 20/20’s resources, tools and expertise to support your team, we can make your application process quick and effective.

Next Steps

Contact Wireless 20/20 now to discuss your needs, explore how our services can address them, and let us provide you with a specific proposal by sending us an an email to info@wireless2020.net or call one of our team members. To try-out the online, interactive demonstration of the ARRA version of the WiROI™ Business Case Analysis Tool, click here. For additional information about Wireless 20/20 services and all of our WiROI™ Business Case Analysis Tools, or to review our team member backgrounds, please visit our website at www.wireless2020.net.

WiROI™ is a trademark of Wireless 20/20, LLC.

Wireless 20|20 Contacts

Randall Schwartz
randall@wireless2020.net
+! (650) 490-3090

Haig A. Sarkissian
haig@wireless2020.net
+1 (408) 884-1561

Berge Ayvazian
berge@wireless2020.net

Rob Franzo
rob@wireless2020.net
+1 (616) 604-1229

John Liebetreu
john@wireless2020.net

Martin Rauchwerk
martin@wireless2020.net

PLEASE NOTE:

The interactive demonstration of the ARRA version of the WiROI™ Business Case Analysis Tool requires the use of Internet Explorer 6 or 7. Internet Explorer 8 users must turn on "Compatibilty View" under IE8 Tools.

Media Contact:

Robin Bestel
robin@wireless2020.net
+1-610-954-8972

If you cannot read this message, click here.


	Rules Are Set For Applying For Broadband Stimulus Funds With A Short Deadline of August 14th Support from Wireless 20/20 Can Help The Process Be Successful The NTIA and RUS have set the rules for applying for funding for the $7.2B that is being made available through the two agencies. The application process is based on a scoring system which requires each applicant to provide detailed information in four categories: 1. Project Purpose 2. Project Benefits 3. Project Viability 4. Project Budget and Sustainability With the requirements for an accurate budget estimation and complete business case being worth a quarter of the total scoring points, NTIA is looking for a each applicant to include a Third party Budget Review, Business Plan sustainability, Market projections, key assumptions, best use of matching funds and in kind contributions. They want compliant applications satisfying eligibility requirements, ready for due diligence review and subsequent compliance audits. All of this detail must be part of applications for the first round which are due on August 14th, leaving potential applicants with a lot of work to do in the next few weeks. As the due dates for applications quickly approaches, Wireless 20/20 can provide a systematic strategic capability to market and service modeling, business case modeling and analysis, and broadband stimulus funding application drafting. Wireless 20/20 support services fall into three areas: 1) Strategy and expertise in helping wireless operators and their partners complete their BTOP/RUS funding applications. 2) Analytical support for each unserved or underserved market included in funding proposals, either directly or indirectly through affiliates. 3) Business development support to help wireless operators develop public-private partnerships and affiliate programs which may be necessary or advantageous for certain markets where they are submitting applications. Wireless 20/20, the Broadband Experts Wireless 20/20 LLC, a US based independent market research and consulting company, is well positioned to provide timely and comprehensive advisory services for wireless operators and their partners at all stages of the ARRA NTIA and RUS broadband funding programs. Wireless 20/20 provides resources and expertise that can help wireless operators and their partners to develop their broadband network strategy, provide assistance in the application process, and support their team with analytical expertise and tools. Funding Application Development Support Wireless 20/20, working with its partners, can provide guidance and support in helping wireless operators develop strong applications maximizing chances of funding. With a strong understanding of the process and the final rules as they have been published, Wireless 20/20 will be able to guide applicants in the process, presentation, and content of their applications to ensure the most favorable review possible for each application. With short deadlines in place, Wireless 20/20 resources, expertise, and methodologies can help an operator complete their application on time. Budget and Business Case Development Support Wireless 20/20 can provide direct support in developing the detailed budget and business case analysis that must be part of each ARRA funding package. Using the Wireless 20/20 WiROI™ Business Case Analysis Tool, our team will develop a business case template for broadband market deployments. The complete 10-year business case makes use of a customer-specific operating model of network coverage and capacity, core network and services. The requirements of the application process require that each application have a detailed budget. By developing a detailed business case, the operator can show the following in the application: - The exact amount required for investment in the network deployment - How much additional equity investment is needed - A detailed model for operational expenses - The revenue estimates for the business case, and market projections and assumptions back up the data. - The “but for” analysis showing the business case of the deployment without funding. - The effect of funding on the business case, and the viability of the post-funded business - Have a template for subsequent due diligence and compliance review. Further, the ARRA version of the WiROI™ Tool implements a special investment module which allows a thorough analysis of the business case for each market accounting for various grant and loan levels. The scoring criteria requires each applicant show that the project supports the “but for” requirement. This means that an applicant must show that without funding the project would not be viable, but with funding the project will be a profitable on-going concern. The WiROI™ Tool is ideal for demonstrating this clearly. Sample WiROI™ Business Case Tool Results for Rural Broadband Deployments WiROI™ Business Case Results Without Stimulus Funding. WiROI™ Business Case Results With Stimulus Funding. In addition to the business case modeling, key success factors in the other scoring categories can be quantified and modeled for each target market, such as broadband service expansion, job creation and economic development. Partnership Development Support Wireless 20/20 offers assistance in developing public-private partnerships for markets where it may be advantageous or necessary as part of the application process. Our team can help develop the strategy, structure and funding requirements of such public-private agreements, and support wireless operators in their efforts to build agreements with state and municipal agencies. Support for public-private partnerships also gain additional points in the application process. Also, consultation with the states is performed in the subsequent steps as part of the BTOP grant review and approval process. In addition, Wireless 20/20 offers business development expertise in the wireless market. Our extensive knowledge of the emerging domestic and international broadband wireless markets will help operators further develop their affiliate programs. By helping to develop a comprehensive presentation package which outlines the program’s goals and benefits to potential partners, Wireless 20/20 will work with clients to outline their business structure, service offering options, network deployment plans, core network service offerings and architectures, and spectrum requirements. Wireless 20/20 can also help recruit partner operators to participate in these programs. The business case development, financial analysis, and partnership development expertise of Wireless 20/20 can provide your team with a full range of services needed to complete a successful broadband stimulus funding application. By adding Wireless 20/20’s resources, tools and expertise to support your team, we can make your application process quick and effective. Next Steps Contact Wireless 20/20 now to discuss your needs, explore how our services can address them, and let us provide you with a specific proposal by sending us an an email to info@wireless2020.net or call one of our team members. To try-out the online, interactive demonstration of the ARRA version of the WiROI™ Business Case Analysis Tool, click here. For additional information about Wireless 20/20 services and all of our WiROI™ Business Case Analysis Tools, or to review our team member backgrounds, please visit our website at www.wireless2020.net. WiROI™ is a trademark of Wireless 20/20, LLC.	Wireless 20\|20 Contacts Randall Schwartz randall@wireless2020.net +! (650) 490-3090 Haig A. Sarkissian haig@wireless2020.net +1 (408) 884-1561 Berge Ayvazian berge@wireless2020.net Rob Franzo rob@wireless2020.net +1 (616) 604-1229 John Liebetreu john@wireless2020.net Martin Rauchwerk martin@wireless2020.net PLEASE NOTE: The interactive demonstration of the ARRA version of the WiROI™ Business Case Analysis Tool requires the use of Internet Explorer 6 or 7. Internet Explorer 8 users must turn on "Compatibilty View" under IE8 Tools.
	Media Contact: Robin Bestel robin@wireless2020.net +1-610-954-8972