The Bigger Picture

We’ve talked before about the struggles of black boxes within the pole attachments process.?

But it’s not just the pole attachments process that lacks transparency. Internal blind spots are just as much of an issue. Even with top-notch departmental communication and incredible standards for accountability, things inevitably fall between the cracks.?

Maybe it’s because information is stuck in data silos . Maybe communication between departments is lacking or teams aren’t aware of other ongoing projects. Maybe the tools we use lack visibility or don’t play well with other platforms.?

Whatever the culprit, the problem is the same: it’s really hard to see the big picture. We know we have blind spots, but that doesn’t mean we know how to avoid them.?

The Problem for Providers

This can be especially difficult for providers trying to find strategic ways to leverage public and private funding. BEAD is complicated for so many reasons, but I think the perspective problem is really well highlighted when we start looking at the smallest BEAD dilemma.?

(Doug Dawson goes into more detail about this dilemma here . I’d recommend giving this article a read to get a feel for the struggles that ISPs are currently or soon to be facing.)

Ideally, underserved and unserved communities come in large patches, where ISPs can build and connect dozens of homes and businesses to services they’re lacking. While some states have bigger chunks of areas that meet the criteria for funding, this isn’t the case everywhere.?

Underserved and unserved communities are often tiny pockets tucked into otherwise served areas, seemingly isolated from the rest of an ISP's footprint.?

I say “seemingly” because providers don’t always have overall visibility into all their projects, every pole they're attached to, and all the areas they’re currently trying to reach. They can have hundreds of jobs in progress at the same time, taking place around the country. It’s a lot to keep track of. If all that information is housed in different locations or tracked by different teams, it’s really difficult to pinpoint free passings and potential areas to grow into.?

ISPs can’t leverage current projects and previous build-outs to reach those pockets if they don’t know where all their current projects and previous build-outs are.?

But it’s not just BEAD

This dilemma is a great example of why providers need better visibility, but I think this is a bigger issue that goes beyond rural broadband deployment.?

Without the right information, the right view, it can be hard to make effective and strategic decisions, BEAD-related or otherwise. Proactive decision-making relies on the right information in the right people’s hands to anticipate possible issues and take advantage of potential growth opportunities. More information and more visibility are a powerful combo to help support providers.?

More Information

One way to generate projects? Creating immediate value locally to help communications providers find new areas to break into. Gathering municipality inventories can give ISPs data they can leverage to draw a more complete map of where they are and where they want to go.?

Plus, it gives you the opportunity to bring better services and provide greater value in your own backyard.

More Visibility?

The software and tools we use should provide holistic, inter-department, cross-team visibility so decision-makers can highlight areas to grow.?

One simple answer is API integration. When all systems can talk to each other in real-time, teams can get a three-thousand-foot view. Providers can see all their jobs with full visibility—what contractor owns it, how is it progressing, where have they already built, etc.—all in one hub.?

If we’re going to get the right perspective, I think we need to leverage workflows and software that provide better visibility. Transparency doesn’t just help teams grow—it builds better relationships with other players and raises the quality of life for folks across the country.?

Thanks for reading! Katapult Pro provides some of the best visibility for pole attachments, but we’re looking for new ways to help ISPs, utilities, and their contractors get a better perspective to pursue new areas of growth. We’d love to hear your thoughts—shoot us an email at [email protected] !?