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Starting a Tribally Owned Telecom. Tribal Telecom 2013. Why start a Tribal Telecom today?. - Will your Tribal Telecom generate rich profits? Likely Not - Will your Tribal Telecom generate long term economic Benefits? Yes
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Starting a Tribally Owned Telecom Tribal Telecom 2013
Why start a Tribal Telecom today? - Will your Tribal Telecom generate rich profits? Likely Not - Will your Tribal Telecom generate long term economic Benefits? Yes - Is inexpensive, high-speed Internet required for economic sovereignty in the 21st Century? Yes
Today’s Environment: less money, less credit • The stimulus has passed • Government budget cutting (and therefore continued economic stagnation for the majority) remains fashionable in Washington • Declining federal subsidies for rural phone companies • Credit is more difficult to secure for small businesses
The Big Picture: US Telecom and Broadband • Rapid, Radical change in the industry • Residential landlines are in steep decline (95% to 65%), Cellular and Broadband are growing • VoIP is emerging • Increased consolidation and monopoly behavior • AT&T and Verizon – Wireless • Comcast and Time Warner Cable – Broadband via old technology, copper US continues to lag other advanced economies in making inexpensive broadband widely available (bottom 1/3rd cannot afford)
Checklist • Shared Community Vision and Commitment – It will be difficult • Funding – RUS / CoBank • Your banker will help you determine if you have a valid business plan with sufficient future cash flows. NTTA member companies would be happy to review your business plan confidentially if you would like. • FCC Office of Native Affairs and Policy (ONAP) Assistance • Management Talent – find a Telecom Executive with a successful track record • Board Talent – Find experienced telecom and finance professionals if possible • Staff Talent – You must import some experienced talent
Checklist • Support firms specific to Telecom: Engineering, Accounting and Legal • R-O-W Plan must be Community/BIA approved upfront and a part of your business plan. Development of a utility grid is ideal • Finalize infrastructure acquisition negotiations, if any, before staffing the company • Public/Private partnership? Choose your partners wisely.