Community Broadband Master Plan Guidebook

the local franchise agreement, the provider may not be compliant with its obligations. If you suspect thisis the case in your community, you should contact the franchising authority and request that theyinvestigate and, if necessary, enforce the agreement.DSL SupplyIn sparsely populated areas, DSL is often the only wireline broadband service available. DSLinfrastructure does not require a new build-out to the premises, because it runs over the coppertelephone lines that exist nationwide. In the case of DSL supply, then, the main issue is not populationdensity, but proximity to provider infrastructure.DSL signals are routed through phone lines via a provider’s central office; your state government willknow the locations of these central offices. DSL providers may also have installed DSL cabinets, whichextend the distance of service by another 15,000 to 18,000 feet, so it is important to determine if andwhere these cabinets exist. The farther the user is from the central office or cabinet, the weaker and lessreliable the DSL signal will be. The signal ceases to be viable outside of a distance of 15,000 to 18,000feet (Figure 22).Figure 22: DSL Service DiagramEven within this range, signal strength varies greatly, and service is not guaranteed; a DSL provider willhave a finite number of circuits at a given central office, and potential new subscribers may find that theprovider has no capacity available.NMBB Program: Community Broadband Master Plan Guidebook 29