Cooperative Broadband Financing Plan

We need to finance a startup broadband cooperative to develop and operate community-owned fiber-optic infrastructure in unserved communities across Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, California. The cooperative will be established as a separate 501(c)(12) subsidiary of WiConduit, an existing 501(c)(3). We have secured approximately $50 million in state broadband infrastructure grants and are developing a cooperative ownership model to support long-term operations, financial sustainability, and future network expansion. We are exploring public bond financing, governmental lending programs, commercial loans, and other financing mechanisms to support construction and ongoing growth. Our staff can provide existing network business plans, grant award documentation, financial projections, and project budgets to inform this work.

We are looking for a volunteer with public finance and infrastructure financing expertise to develop a financing plan and lender identification package for our cooperative. The volunteer will:
- Develop a financial plan using the network business plans and financial projections provided by our staff, identifying capital requirements, potential funding sources, and proposed financing options, including combinations of public bonds, governmental loans, and commercial financing.
- Research and profile suitable public bond programs, governmental lenders, commercial lenders, and other infrastructure financing opportunities, including eligibility requirements, typical financing terms, contact information, and assessment of suitability for a 501(c)(12) cooperative subsidiary of a 501(c)(3).
- Evaluate potential financing approaches for short-term construction bridge financing and long-term cooperative infrastructure ownership, including repayment considerations, collateral requirements, and opportunities to leverage our existing state grant awards.
- Produce an actionable financing roadmap with prioritized next steps and a lender identification package listing recommended lenders, contact details, eligibility notes, and suggested next actions for engagement.

Organization Mission

WiConduit is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization organized exclusively under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The organization's mission is to bridge the Digital Divide by providing communities with access to fast, affordable, and reliable telecommunications infrastructure and services in underserved communities. We believe digital equity and inclusion are essential for disadvantaged communities to compete in today's modern society.