City of Hermiston

Broadband Digital Needs and Readiness Assessment, Broadband Economic Case Assessment, Broadband Market Assessment and eStrategy
2021 – 2025

In 2021, the City of Hermiston had a “patchwork” of broadband infrastructure that did not meet the city’s needs – current or future. SNG was hired to rigorously examine gaps and the level of broadband service available to residents and businesses. As well, SNG was asked to identify opportunities for maximizing benefits from broadband, including the specification of any digital divides that needed to be addressed.

SNG’s broadband assessment process for the City of Hermiston included:

• Started with understanding Hermiston’s digital goals, needs, and readiness (Digital Needs and Readiness Assessment – DNRA)
• Used DNRA findings to focus community planning on consensus goals and needs, to raise awareness and drive engagement on digital inclusion
• Ensured local stakeholders participated and were heard to start a process of collaboration for digital infrastructure and driving utilization
• Assess broadband market needs and demand (current and potential)
• Optimize network design and rollout by better understanding broadband market demand

From 2021 to 2023, SNG conducted a Broadband Assessment and eStrategy Report. Through the use of locally-derived data that provides critical insights on broadband needs and availability, SNG provided Hermiston with a holistic understanding of its broadband gaps, barriers, and opportunities. The report also provided insights needed to bridge gaps in Hermiston’s broadband services and digital infrastructure, as well as to build the digital skills and capacity of businesses and residents to more effectively benefit from these technologies.

SNG’s Broadband Economic Feasibility Assessment and key findings included:

• Net cost to the City of $9,656 per year, while connecting all current and planned locations
• Core network cost with capacity for future expansion: ~$4,000,000 ($294K annually financed at 4% over 20 years)
• Municipal cost savings for current and planned services: $368,346 per year
• Additional tangible benefits: opportunities to support investment from community partners, increased local economic activity, attracting mobile workers and virtual companies, smart community services, etc.

Findings from the Broadband Assessment and eStrategy Report assessed the drivers and the economic case for community digital infrastructure. Hermiston could self-finance a core network with the reallocation of existing telecommunication budgets. Based on the community returns from smart-community services and local business retention and growth, there is also sufficient demand for broadband with resulting significant community benefits to make a case for investing in digital infrastructure in the City of Hermiston.