A quick hello — who are we talking with?

• Please tell us your name, title, and the municipality or county you represent.
• How would you best describe your role in broadband decision-making? Options: Decision lead (e.g., City Manager, County Exec), Program coordinator (broadband or grant lead), Elected official, Procurement/legal lead, Community liaison, Other
• Which broadband grant or funding program triggered this initiative (if any)? Options: BEAD/State broadband program, ARP/Recovery funds, USDA ReConnect, State grant, Local bond/measure, No grant identified yet, Other
• What's the single most important outcome you’d want from a fiber partner in the next 18 months?

Are we confusing 'coverage' with 'connectivity people can actually use'?

• What do you believe the lived experience is for residents today—are speeds reliable enough for work-from-home, telehealth, and school? Options: Mostly reliable, Marginal in many neighborhoods, Unreliable and a frequent complaint, Unknown / no clear sense
• Walk me through a recent example where lack of adequate service created a real problem for a household, business, or municipal service.
• How many formal resident complaints, petitions, or gap reports have you received in the last 24 months? Options: None, 1–5, 6–20, 21–50, 50+
• How confident are you that FCC maps accurately reflect where service is actually failing in your jurisdiction? Options: Very confident, Somewhat confident, Doubtful, We’ve seen clear mapping errors
• If we pulled usage and outage logs from your incumbents, what patterns would you expect to see?

Who really signs the check — and who quietly blocks progress?

• Tell us the formal approval path for grant submission and vendor selection (committees, council votes, legal signoff).
• Who are the informal influencers—respected community leaders, business leaders, or board members—whose signoff we must earn?
• What are the non-negotiable approval gates and their deadlines (e.g., council vote date, grant application cutoff, budget cycle)?
• How much authority does the program lead have to bind the municipality to construction milestones or penalties? Options: Full authority, Limited authority with council approval, Needs legal / procurement approval, Unsure
• What have been the main reasons past projects stalled or failed to get final sign-off? Options: Unclear scope, Cost concerns, Political objections, Procurement rules, Community opposition, Other

If your community had a perfect outcome, what would you be able to celebrate?

• Describe the measurable success signals you would use to decide the project was a win (coverage %, take-rate, latency, price cap, timeline).
• Which of these metrics are deal-breakers versus 'nice-to-have'? Options: Coverage commitment (every address), Binding timeline with penalties, Minimum take-rate target, Price or price-lock guarantee, SLA uptime/speed guarantees, Documentation for grant eligibility
• What timeline feels realistic for you between contract signing and community-wide activation? Options: <6 months, 6–12 months, 12–24 months, 24+ months, Unsure
• How would meeting those success signals change life for residents, businesses, and municipal operations? Tell a short, concrete story.
• If you had to rank priorities among speed, price, timeline, and universal coverage, what order would you choose? Options: Speed, Price, Coverage, Timeline, Coverage, Timeline, Price, Speed, Timeline, Coverage, Speed, Price, Price, Speed, Coverage, Timeline, Other

Where do the public records, petitions, and maps hide the truth?

• What datasets have you already collected or commissioned (FCC maps, independent gap studies, resident petitions, incumbent coverage maps)? Options: FCC maps, State mapping, Independent gap study, Resident petitions/letters, Incumbent-provided data, None collected
• Have you identified specific census blocks or neighborhoods where the FCC map is likely wrong? If so, which ones?
• Are there recent petitions, community canvassing results, or speed test campaigns we can review? Options: Yes — we have organized petitions/speedtests, Some informal resident feedback, No formal petitions yet, We're unsure how to gather this
• How have incumbents behaved when asked to expand or improve service—have they promised, delayed, or refused? Options: Promised improvements, Partial upgrades in select areas, No response, Actively opposed municipal action, Other
• If you could correct one key data point today to strengthen a grant application, what would it be?

If construction had to go flawlessly, which permit, access, or right-of-way issue would trip us up first?

• Describe the permitting and right-of-way landscape—who issues permits, average approval times, and known bottlenecks.
• Do you anticipate utility coordination, environmental review, or HOA approvals as significant barriers? Please specify which. Options: Utility coordination, Environmental review, HOA consent, Historic district restrictions, None anticipated, Other
• Are there municipal construction windows, seasonal constraints, or community events that would make certain months unusable for build activity? Options: Yes—specific months, Some restrictions but manageable, No major constraints, Unsure
• What is the municipality's process for coordinating neighborhood outreach and communication about construction impacts? Options: Dedicated communications team, Ad hoc outreach, Contractor-led outreach, No formal process yet
• Who manages emergency access and restoration plans if construction affects critical municipal services (e.g., water, emergency comms)?

What makes a resident say 'yes' on day one — and what makes them say 'wait and see'?

• From your conversations, what reasons do residents give for wanting new fiber (speed, price, reliability, future resale value)? Options: Speed for work/school, Lower or comparable price, Reliable connectivity, Competitive options for business, Property value, Other
• What concerns have residents expressed about switching providers (installation disruption, cost, contract terms, trust)? Options: Installation disruption, Monthly cost, Contract length, Privacy/data concerns, Skepticism of promises, Other
• Do you have demographic or housing stock details that affect adoption—rental vs. owned, multi‑unit housing, senior populations, or limited-English communities?
• How important is staged neighborhood activation with visible installs in driving take-rate versus a broad launch all at once? Options: Staged activation is critical, Broad launch preferred, Combination works best, Unsure
• What resident-facing guarantees (price lock, installation fee waiver, satisfaction window) would make sign-up easier? Options: Price lock period, Free installation, Satisfaction trial period, Community discount, None of the above, Other

What paperwork or proof will make your grant reviewer stop asking questions?

• Which grant compliance documents are already prepared, and which are missing (e.g., binding coverage commitments, construction schedule with milestones, financial letters)? Options: Binding coverage commitment, Milestone-driven construction schedule, Penalties/delay clauses, Compliance attestation, Financial capacity docs, Missing most or all
• Have you seen sample contracts or compliance packages that were accepted or rejected by the granting authority? What can we learn from them?
• How strict are your grantors on milestone penalties or remedies for missed timelines? Options: Very strict—penalties expected, Flexible if documented, Depends on the reviewer, Unsure
• Would you need the provider to act as the official grant applicant, a subcontractor, or an implementation partner? Which model would simplify approval? Options: Provider as applicant, Provider as subcontractor, Provider as implementation partner, Undecided
• What is the minimum documentation you must deliver to secure the next decision milestone?

If we agreed on everything today, what would a clear next step look like?

• Which stakeholders should be at the next meeting to avoid rework (names/roles), and what materials would they need?
• What timeline for a site visit, scope review, and draft agreement would be acceptable to you? Options: Within 2 weeks, 2–4 weeks, 1–2 months, Longer than 2 months, Unsure
• What would make you comfortable moving from exploration to a binding statement of work—specific deliverables, insurance, or financial assurances? Options: Binding construction milestones, Insurance and bonding, Financial capacity proof, Grant eligibility letters, Other
• Is there an internal deadline (council meeting, grant window) that will force a yes/no decision on a partner? If so, when?
• Who should receive a short summary and recommended next steps after this discovery conversation?

Quick Snapshot: Where We Stand Today

• In one sentence, how would you summarize your community’s current broadband situation?
• Which municipal office or official is leading the broadband effort right now? Options: City Manager/Administrator, County Administrator, IT/Technology Department, Economic Development, Community Broadband Coordinator, Other
• Do you already have an official gap study, resident petition, or both? Options: Formal gap study completed, Resident petition submitted, Both gap study and petition, No formal documentation yet, Work in progress
• What service threshold does your municipality use to consider an address 'served' (if any)? Options: 25/3 Mbps, 100/20 Mbps, 250/25 Mbps, 1/1 Gbps, No formal threshold, Other
• Approximately how many residential addresses are in the project scope (rough number is fine)?
• Is there a fixed grant or project deadline that constrains the timeline? Options: Yes — firm deadline, Yes — flexible deadline, No specific deadline, Unknown

Are The Maps Telling the Whole Truth?

• How confident are you that FCC/NTIA maps accurately reflect actual consumer experience on your streets? Options: Very confident, Somewhat confident, Doubtful, Not confident at all, I don't know how to interpret the maps
• Which neighborhoods or census tracts do you suspect are misrepresented on federal/state maps? Please list or describe.
• What mapping artifacts do you currently have (select all that apply)? Options: Address-level exports (CSV), Shapefiles/KML/GeoJSON, High-level reports only (PDF), No mapping artifacts, Other
• Have you collected speed-test data (municipal testing, resident-submitted, or third-party)? Options: Municipal-run speed tests, Resident-submitted speed tests, Independent contractor measurements, No speed-test data collected, Some but incomplete
• If you have speed-test data, what are the typical median download and upload numbers in affected areas?
• How long have discrepancies between mapped coverage and resident experience been reported? Options: Less than 1 year, 1–3 years, 3–5 years, More than 5 years, Unknown

Who’s Actually Serving Your Streets?

• Are incumbents prioritizing profitable pockets and leaving others behind—what evidence makes you say that? Options: Yes — clear cherry-picking, Some evidence of partial coverage, No — coverage appears uniform, Unsure / mixed evidence
• Please list the incumbent providers operating in your jurisdiction and any neighborhoods they advertise for (comma-separated).
• Which technologies do those incumbents primarily use in your area? Options: Fiber (FTTP), Cable (DOCSIS), DSL, Fixed wireless, Mixed/unknown
• Have any incumbents made public commitments to build to the entire community or to specific neighborhoods? Options: Committed to full community build, Committed to select neighborhoods only, No public commitments, Unclear / verbal only
• What typical installation windows and lead times do incumbents give residents (days/weeks/months)?
• Have you observed behaviors like marketing exclusions, refusal to serve, or differential pricing by neighborhood? Options: Yes — marketing exclusions, Yes — service refused in areas, Yes — higher prices in certain areas, No clear evidence, Unsure

What Residents Are Saying — Loudly or Quietly

• If residents could title a petition about local internet service, what three complaints would you expect to see most often?
• Have residents submitted formal petitions, affidavits, or neighborhood sign-ons? Options: Signed resident petition, Affidavits/testimonials, Online petitions or social posts, No formal resident submissions, Work in progress
• Approximately how many households have reached out to municipal offices regarding broadband problems? Options: Fewer than 50, 50–200, 200–500, 500–1,000, Over 1,000, Unknown
• Which community institutions are most vocal—schools, clinics, businesses, libraries, or other? Select all that apply. Options: K–12 schools, Healthcare clinics/telehealth providers, Libraries, Small businesses, Senior centers, None
• Share one anonymized resident story or example that best illustrates the local impact (e.g., student failing remote classes, clinic unable to do telehealth).
• What feelings come through most when residents describe their internet problems (frustration, economic anxiety, embarrassment, fear for children's education)? Options: Frustration, Economic worry, Embarrassment/social isolation, Concern for students/education, Health/telemedicine anxiety, Other

What’s Getting In The Way?

• What hidden or structural barriers do you think are allowing under‑served neighborhoods to remain under‑served?
• Which of these constraints have blocked progress historically? (select all that apply) Options: Lack of funding/grant timing, Right-of-way/permit delays, Pole attachments and utility coordination, Political or council hesitation, Incumbent resistance, Geographic/terrain challenges, Other
• Are there known permitting or pole attachment backlogs we should know about? Options: Significant backlog, Moderate delays, Minor delays, No known backlog, Unknown
• Do easement, ROW records, or private property access issues affect potential routes? Options: Extensive easement issues, Some easement issues, Few or none, Unknown
• How predictable is your procurement and approval calendar (dates for council votes, procurement windows)? Options: Firm public calendar, Draft calendar with estimates, Dependent on grant schedule, No clear calendar
• Which internal approvals or external sign-offs are required before construction can start?

If We Fixed It Tomorrow, What Would Change?

• Imagine every household reached symmetrical gigabit speeds—what three concrete community changes would you expect to see in 12–24 months?
• Which municipal outcomes matter most to you (select up to three)? Options: K–12 education outcomes, Economic development / business attraction, Equity & universal access, Telehealth expansion, Public safety / emergency services, Workforce development
• Which household-level metrics would you use to judge success (coverage %, adoption/take-rate, price relative to incumbent, measured speeds)? Options: Coverage % of addresses, Take-rate within 12 months, Average price vs incumbent, Minimum measured symmetrical speed, Complaint reduction
• What timeline do you need to meet grant compliance or municipal objectives? Options: Under 6 months, 6–12 months, 12–24 months, More than 24 months, Dependent on funding
• How will you measure resident satisfaction and technical performance after deployment? Options: Resident surveys, Resident-run speed tests, Adoption dashboards, Service level reporting from provider, Complaint logs
• Who inside the municipality will own ongoing relationship management and reporting (title/role)? Options: City Manager, Broadband Coordinator, IT Director, Economic Development Director, Third-party program manager, Other
• What would leave you skeptical even if coverage and speeds matched promises—what non-technical concerns matter?

Evidence & Artifacts: Let's Gather What Matters

• Which of these supporting artifacts do you already have and could share? Options: Signed resident petition (PDF/CSV), Compiled speed-test dataset, Address-level list of unserved locations, GIS layers / shapefiles, Pole inventory / asset list, None available
• Can you provide an address-level list (CSV or geo) of unserved or underserved locations today? Options: Yes — full CSV/geo file available, Partial list available, No list available, In progress
• Do you have prior feasibility studies, concept maps, or contractor quotes that influenced your thinking? Options: Feasibility study, Conceptual route maps, Contractor/vendor quotes, No prior studies
• Are there legal, privacy, or data-use constraints (e.g., need for NDA) before sharing resident contact or speed data? Options: NDA required, HIPAA/health-related concerns, Privacy ordinance applies, No constraints, Unsure
• How quickly could you gather and share the single most persuasive artifact (e.g., a signed petition CSV or GIS file)? Options: Immediately, Within 1 week, 1–4 weeks, Longer than 1 month, Unknown
• Describe the single best artifact you could share right now (filename, format, or short description).

Next Small Steps: What Should We Do Together First?

• If we proved progress with one small, certain action this month, which would you pick (pilot speed tests, address-level mapping, community outreach, or preliminary route concept)? Options: Targeted speed-testing pilot, Compile address-level gap list, Community pre-registration drive, Preliminary route/feasibility concept, Other
• Would you welcome a targeted speed-testing pilot in a single neighborhood to validate mapped gaps? Options: Yes — start immediately, Yes — with municipal oversight, Maybe — need more info, No
• Which neighborhood or census tract would you recommend for a rapid pilot (name, boundary, or tract ID)?
• Who are three local champions or field contacts we can engage for resident outreach and logistics?
• What is a realistic timeline for a pilot or initial survey (choose one)? Options: 2 weeks, 1 month, 1–3 months, 3+ months
• What would be an immediate red flag that should stop the pilot or change approach?

Starting Line: A Quick Snapshot

• What is the single most important launch date or hard deadline we must protect?
• Who is our primary municipal contact for deployment decisions (name, title, best phone/email)?
• Which neighborhood(s) do you expect to activate first and why?
• How confident are you that the project is permitted to proceed to mobilization right now? Options: Very confident, Mostly confident but a few items remain, Uncertain — significant items outstanding, Not confident
• Are there resident pre-registration or petition metrics available today we can review (e.g., percentage signed per neighborhood)? If so, please summarize.

Who Holds the Keys?

• If a single person could pause construction tomorrow, who would that be and why?
• Which municipal or state agencies must sign permits or easements before we begin (select all that apply)? Options: City engineering/public works, County roads/highways, State DOT, Planning/zoning, Parks/recreation, Historic preservation, Environmental/conservation, Utility/franchise office, HOA/Private road associations, Railroad/ROW owner, Other
• Which of those approvals are fully executed, pending, or not started? (Please list by agency with status.)
• Who in the municipality is empowered to expedite permits if an urgent issue arises (name/role/contact)?
• Are any permit conditions likely to require rework in the field (e.g., special restoration, tree protections, bonding)? Options: No special conditions, Minor conditions likely, Significant conditions likely, Unknown — need to review permit language

When Red Tape Smiles, Projects Move — When It Doesn't, They Stall

• What permitting or right-of-way assumption is everyone silently relying on that could be wrong?
• Which right-of-way agreements are already executed (select all that apply)? Options: City-owned streets, County roads, State highways, Private easements, Utility corridors/ducts, Pole attachment agreements, No ROW agreements executed yet, Other
• Are there special zones (historic district, environmental buffer, floodplain) that will require additional clearances or mitigation? Options: None, Historic or conservation district, Wetlands/floodplain, Critical habitat/species concerns, Archaeological review, Unknown — needs assessment
• How long do you expect formal permit approvals or ROW sign-offs to take from submission to issuance (typical ranges)? Options: < 2 weeks, 2–4 weeks, 1–3 months, 3–6 months, More than 6 months, Unknown
• Has the municipality previously issued permits quickly for similar infrastructure projects? Tell us a specific example and what changed it from slow to fast (or vice versa).

Neighborhood Pulse — Would Neighbors Throw a Block Party or a Complaint?

• If five local community leaders posted about construction tomorrow, would the reaction be mostly positive, mostly negative, evenly split, or uncertain? Options: Mostly positive, Mostly negative, Evenly split, Uncertain
• Which neighborhoods currently show the strongest pre-registration or interest (list neighborhood and approximate % signed)?
• What are the top three concerns residents have expressed about construction or service (select up to three)? Options: Disruption/noise, Road closures/parking, Cost/monthly price, Reliability/technology skepticism, Property restoration, Safety, Privacy/data security, Other
• Which communication channels have been most effective so far for this community (select all that apply)? Options: Direct mailers, Door-to-door canvassing, Town halls/in-person meetings, Social media/local groups, Local newspaper/radio, Email newsletters, Utility bills insert, None yet
• Tell us about a resident interaction — positive or negative — that changed the town’s perception of the project. What happened and what did it reveal?

Supply Chain & Materials — Can We Build to the Timeline?

• Which single material or vendor delay would most likely derail our activation schedule?
• Status of long‑lead items (select status for all that apply): Options: Fiber cable – In stock, Fiber cable – Ordered (ETA), Fiber cable – Backordered, Handholes/closures – In stock, Handholes/closures – Ordered (ETA), Splice closures – Backordered, Conduits – Available, Poles – Under agreement, Connectors/ONUs – Backordered, Other
• Are there preferred or contracted vendors for key materials and construction services? Please list names and any lead-time guarantees.
• Have we accounted for contingency stock or alternate suppliers in case of shortages? Options: Yes — contingency plan in place, Partial — some backups identified, No — no contingency identified, Unknown
• Are there municipal procurement policies or local vendor preferences that could affect sourcing or delivery timing? Options: Yes — strict local sourcing requirements, Some preference for local vendors, No special procurement constraints, Unknown

Construction Playbook — Who Does What, When

• If a construction crew arrives on day one, would they know exactly where to start and who to call if they hit a problem? Options: Yes — fully clear, Mostly — minor clarifications needed, No — many details missing, Unsure
• Have construction phases been scheduled by neighborhood with binding start/end dates and published to stakeholders? Options: Yes — full schedule published, Partial — high‑level schedule only, No schedule yet, Schedule under negotiation
• Are crew leads, numbers, and primary contacts assigned for each neighborhood? Options: Fully assigned with contact list, Assigned but not all contacts confirmed, Not assigned
• Do traffic control, restoration, and site safety plans have municipal sign-off where required? Options: All approved, Some approved, some pending, Not approved yet, Not required
• Where will materials and staging areas be located, and do we have short‑term permits/agreements for them?

Risk & Escalation — What Keeps You Up at Night?

• What's the single biggest unknown today that could cause political, funding, or timeline risk?
• Are there contractual penalties or grant milestone consequences tied to delays we should be aware of? Options: Yes — explicit penalties, Yes — soft consequences/repayment risk, No penalties, Unknown/under review
• Who is the municipal escalation path for executive decisions (name/role/alternate)?
• Which KPIs should trigger immediate escalation to executive leadership (select all that apply)? Options: Permits delayed > 14 days, Major supplier backorder > 30 days, Take‑rate < expected by 30/90/365 days, Customer safety incident, Restoration defects > threshold, Political opposition petition > X signatures, Other
• What mitigation strategies do you already have for weather, labor shortages, or unexpected environmental findings?

Turn‑Up Day — What Would Make It Feel Successful?

• Imagine activation day: what one failure would everyone notice and complain about immediately?
• What acceptance tests will we require for a neighborhood to be signed off (select all that apply)? Options: Speed/throughput benchmark (specify), Symmetrical speed verification, Latency/jitter thresholds, Field QA checklist completion, Photographic installation evidence, Third‑party audit, Subscriber onboarding completed to X%
• How will installation quality be inspected and reported (roles, cadence, tools)?
• What subscriber onboarding experience do you want for day‑one customers (self‑install, tech‑assisted, welcome events)? Options: Self-install kit, Scheduled technician visit, Neighborhood activation events, Hybrid — guides + tech support, Other
• What take‑rate percentage at 30/90/365 days would you consider a clear win for the neighborhood? Options: > 60% at 12 months, 50–60% at 12 months, 40–50% at 12 months, < 40% — needs review, We need to set a custom target

Commitment & Next Steps — Clear Lines, Quick Wins

• If you could get one specific commitment from us today that would remove the most doubt, what would it be?
• Which documents or artifacts do you need from us in the next 7 days (select all that apply)? Options: Final construction schedule, Permit narratives and drawings, Insurance certificates and bonds, Pole attachment agreements, Community communications packet, Testing & acceptance checklist, SLA and pricing guarantees, Other
• What cadence and format do you prefer for deployment check‑ins during mobilization? Options: Weekly written reports + weekly call, Twice weekly call during active builds, Daily standup while crews active, Biweekly, Ad hoc as needed
• Who will be the single point of contact for disputes or urgent approvals on the municipal side (name, role, backup)?
• On a scale of 1–5, how ready do you feel to move to mobilization after we close this conversation (1 = not ready, 5 = fully ready)? Options: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Tell Us Who You Are and What's Driving This Project

• To get us started—what is your primary role in this project and how hands‑on will you be? Options: City/County Manager, Broadband Coordinator, Public Works Director, Grant Administrator, Elected Official, Economic Development Lead, Other (please specify)
• Which statement best describes why your community is pursuing fiber now? Options: State/federal grant requirement, Resident petitions/gap study, Economic development goals, Public safety/education needs, Combination of the above, Other
• What is your ideal decision timeline from proposal to binding award? Options: Immediate (weeks), Short (1–3 months), Moderate (3–6 months), Longer (6–12 months), Unsure / dependent on funding
• Briefly describe any recent events or community pressure that make this moment urgent (e.g., a grant deadline, resident petition, business relocation).

If This Project Exceeds Expectations, What Changes?

• Imagine we fast-forward 18 months and you’re celebrating—what measurable change would make you call this a win for the municipality?
• Which of these municipal success metrics are most important to you? (pick up to three) Options: % addresses served (coverage), Construction timeline met, Grant compliance / audit readiness, Affordability targets met, Economic impact (jobs/retention), Resident satisfaction scores
• For households, what take‑rate and timeline would feel like a community success to you? Options: >=50% within 12 months, 40–50% within 12 months, 30–40% within 12 months, Sustained growth over 2 years, Other (specify)
• Beyond raw metrics, what story would you want to tell residents about how their lives improved after fiber (education, work from home, healthcare, civic services)?

What’s Standing Between Today and Those Outcomes?

• What risks or assumptions do you think people are underestimating about delivering community‑wide fiber?
• Which traditional provider behaviors have been a recurring obstacle in your community (pick all that apply)? Options: Selective cherry‑picking of neighborhoods, Slow response to petitions, Disputes over infrastructure access, Misleading coverage claims, No meaningful upgrade plans
• How accurate do you believe current FCC mapping or coverage data is for your area? Options: Mostly accurate, Partially accurate, Poorly accurate, I don’t know / need assessment
• Tell us about the single biggest logistical or political barrier you’ve faced so far (right‑of‑way, permitting, council opposition, funding match).
• How long has this barrier been blocking progress, and what have you already tried to do about it?

Who Really Holds the Keys?

• Who must sign off at each approval gate (administration, council vote, procurement, legal)? Please list titles or bodies.
• Which stakeholders outside government influence the decision most (utilities, school district, chamber of commerce, large employers, community advocacy groups)? Options: Utilities, School District, Chamber of Commerce, Major Employers, Community Petitions/Advocacy, Other
• Who are the informal influencers—people whose support can speed approval even if they don’t sign legal documents?
• How would you rate overall alignment among decision makers today? Options: Fully aligned, Mostly aligned with a few objections, Divided, Unclear / needs facilitation
• What evidence or assurances does each decision group need to feel comfortable (e.g., binding timelines, penalty clauses, price guarantees, audit paperwork)? Options: Binding timeline with penalties, Community coverage guarantee, Proof of grant‑eligibility documentation, Service level agreements (uptime/speed), Sample contract language, Other

When Neighbors Say 'It Works,' What Will They Mean?

• If a resident tells you the service exceeded expectations, which three household experiences would they be describing? Options: Symmetrical gigabit speeds, Lower monthly bill than cable, Fewer outages / consistent reliability, Fast, courteous installation, Clear pricing and no surprise fees, Local customer support
• How sensitive are your residents to price vs. speed vs. reliability when choosing to switch? Options: Price matters most, Speed matters most, Reliability matters most, All are equally important, Unsure / varies by household
• What percentage of early adopters in your community do you expect to be driven by cost versus service quality versus civic pride/community benefit? Options: Mostly cost, Mostly quality, Mostly civic/community reasons, Even split, Unsure
• How important is a frictionless installation experience (same‑day/next‑day, clean in‑home work) to driving word‑of‑mouth? Options: Critical, Very important, Somewhat important, Nice to have
• Are there household groups (seniors, small businesses, students) whose acceptance criteria differ substantially? Please describe.

Adoption—What Will Make Residents Say Yes Quickly?

• What take‑rate would you consider a successful launch for a single neighborhood at 6 and 12 months? Options: >=50% at 12 months, 40–50% at 12 months, 30–40% at 12 months, Slower, multi‑year growth
• Which tactics do you believe will most accelerate signups in your community (select top two)? Options: Door‑to‑door canvassing, Pre‑registration campaigns, Municipal endorsement/communications, Introductory pricing, Local events/demo installs, Business outreach
• What local objections or myths about fiber do you expect to confront early (cost, construction disruption, provider trust)?
• How willing are you to support or co‑fund community marketing and enrollment efforts? Options: Fully willing, Partially willing, Limited support only, Not willing
• What would make a resident choose to wait rather than sign up immediately (examples: price, trust, seeing neighbors switch, installation wait times)?

The Grant & Compliance Pressure‑Test

• What are the non‑negotiable compliance items in your grant (evidence of speed tests, construction milestones, audited expenses, coverage mapping)? Options: Speed test evidence, Documented construction milestones, Audited costs/matching funds, Service to all eligible addresses, Public benefit reporting, Other
• Which reporting cadence does the grant require (monthly, quarterly, milestone‑based, final audit)? Options: Monthly, Quarterly, Milestone‑based, Final audit only, Unsure
• What format or standards will auditors expect for performance evidence (e.g., FCC‑style mapping, third‑party speed test samples)? Options: FCC mapping formats, Third‑party speed test samples, Photographic construction logs, Signed acceptance forms, Other
• Which single compliance failure would be most damaging to your funding prospects? Options: Missing a binding milestone, Insufficient documented coverage, Incorrect cost reporting, Failure of speed/uplink tests, Other
• What support would make compliance feel manageable (templated reports, a dedicated compliance liaison, audit rehearsals)? Options: Templated reports, Dedicated liaison, Audit rehearsals, Training for staff, Other

What Trade‑offs Won’t You Accept?

• If choices must be made between speed, coverage, timeline, and price, which two are absolutely non‑negotiable for you? Options: Coverage (every address served), Speed (symmetrical gigabit), Firm timeline with penalties, Affordable pricing for residents, Long‑term SLAs
• Would you accept phased coverage where some lower‑density pockets come later if it accelerated overall timeline? Options: Yes, if contractually bound, Maybe, depending on commitments, No—every address must be in phase one, Unsure
• How important are contractor penalties or liquidated damages if milestones slip? Options: Critical—must include, Important—preferable, Flexible—case by case, Not necessary
• Are there contractual terms you cannot accept under any circumstance (e.g., third‑party ownership of fiber, data sharing, indefinite price escalations)?
• Would you prioritize a lower cost option that only promises partial coverage over a slightly higher cost that guarantees full community coverage? Options: Guarantee full coverage, Partial coverage acceptable with incentives, Depends on cost difference, Unsure

How Will We Know We’ve Built It Right?

• What acceptance tests will you require per neighborhood to confirm installation quality (speed/reliability tests, visual inspections, homeowner sign‑offs)? Options: Speed & reliability tests, Visual install inspection, Homeowner acceptance form, Third‑party QA audits, Other
• What minimum sample size or percentage of homes tested should be used to declare a neighborhood accepted? Options: 100% of installs, 50–75% sample, 25–50% sample, Spot checks only, Other
• Which KPIs should trigger remediation work before final acceptance (examples: failed speed tests, repeated outages, poor installation quality)? Options: Failed speed tests, Repeat outages within 30 days, Installation damages/complaints, Low early take‑rate vs forecast, Other
• How quickly must remediation be completed to keep the neighborhood on schedule? Options: Within 7 days, Within 30 days, Within 90 days, Depends on severity
• Who will sign neighborhood acceptance—municipal rep, homeowner association, third‑party inspector? Options: Municipal rep, HOA representative, Third‑party inspector, No formal sign‑off required

Data, Evidence, and Stories That Build Confidence

• What past examples or case studies would you like to see from us to feel confident (similar community size, grant‑backed builds, timeline performance)? Options: Similar population size, Similar geography (rural/exurban), Grant-funded case study, Speed/take‑rate outcomes, Operational SLA examples
• Which format helps you most to evaluate evidence—concise one‑page summaries, full technical appendices, or short video testimonials from municipal peers? Options: One‑page summary, Technical appendices, Video testimonials, Live reference calls, All of the above
• How important is seeing local references (neighbors, nearby towns) versus national or regional case studies? Options: Local references most important, Regional helpful, National ok if relevant, Prefer a mix
• Would you want a mock‑audit or pre‑submission review of compliance materials before formal grant reporting? Options: Yes—strongly want, Maybe—if offered, No

Cost, Pricing & Affordability Conversations

• What are your community’s affordability targets or constraints for monthly pricing (e.g., no more than current cable bill, subsidized low‑income plan)? Options: At or below current cable, Slightly above cable with better speeds, Must include subsidized low‑income plan, Unsure / need community survey
• How important is price‑parity for winning resident trust and take‑rate? Options: Critical, Very important, Somewhat important, Not important
• Would the municipality consider demand aggregation (bulk sign‑up discounts) or enrollment incentives to accelerate adoption? Options: Yes—municipality will support, Maybe—depends on cost, No—prefer market pricing
• If affordability programs are required, which would you prefer the provider handle (billing discounts, application assistance, direct subsidies)? Options: Provider‑managed discounts, Municipality‑administered subsidies, Joint approach, Other
• What maximum monthly price point would be a strong political win for you (approximate $)?

Signs of Early Success: What Will You Celebrate First?

• Which early milestone would make you comfortable publicly endorsing the project (first neighborhood active, first 100 subscribers, first audited milestone met)? Options: First neighborhood active, First 100 subscribers, First audited milestone met, First positive resident testimonials, Other
• What internal signals would make your team stop worrying and start championing the rollout? Options: Milestones met on time, High quality installs, Rapid early take‑rate, No major complaints
• How would you like early performance communicated to the public (press release, council update, community forum, social proof videos)? Options: Press release, Council update, Community forum, Social media testimonials, Other
• How quickly should we provide neighborhood performance dashboards after activation? Options: Real‑time, Daily, Weekly, Monthly

Final Decision Confidence & Next Steps

• If you had exactly one unmet question or worry right now, what is it?
• What additional documentation or demo would raise your confidence to a 'yes' in the next 30 days (contract skeleton, sample SLA, pilot plan, reference call)? Options: Contract skeleton, Sample SLA, Pilot plan, Reference call, Cost breakdown
• Who else must we brief or convince before a final decision, and what is the best way to reach them?
• On a scale of 1–5, how comfortable are you with moving to a formal commercial discussion within 30 days? Options: 1 - Not comfortable, 2, 3 - Neutral, 4, 5 - Very comfortable