Broadband Ready Community Designation

The purpose of the Broadband Ready Community Designation is for a community to demonstrate that a local unit of government has taken steps to reduce obstacles to broadband infrastructure investment. A local government that has amended their comprehensive plan to include the promotion of the deployment broadband services and has adopted a model ordinance is eligible to apply for a Broadband Ready Community Designation (O.C.G.A. §50-40-40).

Local Comprehensive Plan: The purpose of a community amending their comprehensive plan to include a broadband element is to ensure that a community adopts a strategy that demonstrates the promotion of broadband within the community. DCA has developed and approved the rules for the new element required for a community to include in their comprehensive plan. The rules are being communicated to local governments and Regional Commissions. Plans must include the update prior to being eligible to apply for a Broadband Ready Community Designation.

Broadband Model Ordinance: The purpose of the model ordinance is to signal a local unit of government has taken steps to reduce obstacles to broadband infrastructure investment. The broadband model ordinance has been developed through collaboration with representatives of local governments and providers. 

Broadband Ready Site Designation

The purpose of the Broadband Ready Site Designation is to encourage economic development and attract technology. With the assistance of the Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Economic Development will designate facilities and developments that offer broadband services at a rate of not less than 1 gigabit per second in the downstream to end users that can be accessed for business, education, health care, government, and other public purposes (O.C.G.A. §50-40-61). Once designated, the Department of Economic Development will promote the facilities and developments as local community assets. Additionally, standardized graphics and materials will be provided to the owner(s) and the county or municipal corporation in which the facility or development is located in order to promote the status as a Georgia Broadband Ready Site (O.C.G.A. §50-40-62).