Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
That makes sense. I think there might be ways to handle the lien so that it’s not a big stigma for the property owner. I’m willing to try it and handle the aftermath. From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Roger Timmerman Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 2:21 PM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment I would recommend steering away from a Special Assessment Area as a mechanism for funding FTTx. A bond with an SAA repayment still needs some form of backstop and in the case of Brigham City, the city placed liens on the properties as the backstop to the bonds. It worked to get the bond and fund the build, but resulted in lots of not-so-happy people. We don't plan on doing that ever again and connect customers now under our normal bond/debt structure with no liens. As far as Perry City, UTOPIA collectively paid for the conduit, and we did finish that city so anyone in the city can get services there now. Obviously, it wasn't in our best interests to let someone else come use that conduit. Steer as far from RUS as possible. The most devastating mishap in UTOPIA's history was using RUS loans to fund several builds and then have RUS mess it up. After many years of legal fighting we finally settled with them last year. Never again! This was the cause for the Perry City completion delay where it may have appeared to be an abandoned project for a few years. Roger On Thu, Aug 11, 2016 at 12:49 PM, Chuck McCown mailto:ch...@wbmfg.com>> wrote: Tell them you are adjoining Eagle Mountain... -Original Message- From: Sterling Jacobson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:36 AM To: af@afmug.com<mailto:af@afmug.com> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Thanks for that, I'll give it a try, though I doubt they will see it as rural. We do have some large farms in the city still... -Original Message- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com<mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com>] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:32 AM To: af@afmug.com<mailto:af@afmug.com> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Might be worth calling these guys: http://www.cobank.com/About-CoBank.aspx -Original Message- From: Sterling Jacobson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:28 AM To: af@afmug.com<mailto:af@afmug.com> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Ah, ok. Fiber is way more capital intensive than the WISP I had, and requires massive funding. So my traditional sources and avenues for borrowing don't even come close to matching up with the demand and cost of construction. Too bad banks don't see fiber/conduit build as collateral. That is why I am investigating special assessment. -Original Message- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com<mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com>] On Behalf Of Travis Johnson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:17 AM To: af@afmug.com<mailto:af@afmug.com> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Just saying that government money is never what it's cracked up to be. I've never taken a single dime (loan, grant, tax, assessment, etc) and probably never will, with any of my companies. It's just not worth all the extra work and headaches. If you have a sound business plan and operation, just borrow the money and get it done. There are all kinds of ways to be creative when it comes to funding. Leasing equipment, 60 day term credit cards, lines of credit (secured with assets of the business), or even home equity loans (4.25% right now, with interest only payments), etc. Travis On 8/11/2016 10:52 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: Definitely. Travis, are you just generally saying the money comes with strings attached, or do you have actual specific experience with Special Assessment in this manner? -Original Message- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com<mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com>] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:51 AM To: af@afmug.com<mailto:af@afmug.com> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Yeah, good people find themselves in legal trouble all the time when getting involved with guvmnt money. Less than zero tolerance for even the appearance of evil. -Original Message- From: Travis Johnson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:48 AM To: af@afmug.com<mailto:af@afmug.com> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment You better build in an additional 100% for overhead costs... I would imagine you would have to start doing audited tax returns and financials every year. You will also have to have someone tracking every single expense and what it is attached to, etc. Then you will have all the overhead and administrative costs for managing the paperwork and government related money. Travis On 8/11/2016 10:21 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project? I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for specifi
Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
Man, this list will let anyone lurk
Hi Roger,
Yep, Perry told me they owned the conduit. I was working for that “other”
place then.
We would have blown in fiber in a heartbeat.
This was probably 6-8 years ago.
From: Roger Timmerman
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 2:21 PM
To: af@afmug.com
Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
I would recommend steering away from a Special Assessment Area as a mechanism
for funding FTTx. A bond with an SAA repayment still needs some form of
backstop and in the case of Brigham City, the city placed liens on the
properties as the backstop to the bonds. It worked to get the bond and fund
the build, but resulted in lots of not-so-happy people. We don't plan on doing
that ever again and connect customers now under our normal bond/debt structure
with no liens.
As far as Perry City, UTOPIA collectively paid for the conduit, and we did
finish that city so anyone in the city can get services there now. Obviously,
it wasn't in our best interests to let someone else come use that conduit.
Steer as far from RUS as possible. The most devastating mishap in UTOPIA's
history was using RUS loans to fund several builds and then have RUS mess it
up. After many years of legal fighting we finally settled with them last year.
Never again! This was the cause for the Perry City completion delay where it
may have appeared to be an abandoned project for a few years.
Roger
On Thu, Aug 11, 2016 at 12:49 PM, Chuck McCown wrote:
Tell them you are adjoining Eagle Mountain...
-Original Message- From: Sterling Jacobson
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:36 AM
To: af@afmug.com
Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
Thanks for that, I'll give it a try, though I doubt they will see it as rural.
We do have some large farms in the city still...
-Original Message-
From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:32 AM
To: af@afmug.com
Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
Might be worth calling these guys:
http://www.cobank.com/About-CoBank.aspx
-Original Message-
From: Sterling Jacobson
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:28 AM
To: af@afmug.com
Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
Ah, ok.
Fiber is way more capital intensive than the WISP I had, and requires massive
funding.
So my traditional sources and avenues for borrowing don't even come close to
matching up with the demand and cost of construction.
Too bad banks don't see fiber/conduit build as collateral.
That is why I am investigating special assessment.
-Original Message-
From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Travis Johnson
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:17 AM
To: af@afmug.com
Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
Just saying that government money is never what it's cracked up to be.
I've never taken a single dime (loan, grant, tax, assessment, etc) and
probably never will, with any of my companies. It's just not worth all the
extra work and headaches. If you have a sound business plan and operation, just
borrow the money and get it done.
There are all kinds of ways to be creative when it comes to funding.
Leasing equipment, 60 day term credit cards, lines of credit (secured with
assets of the business), or even home equity loans (4.25% right now, with
interest only payments), etc.
Travis
On 8/11/2016 10:52 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote:
Definitely.
Travis, are you just generally saying the money comes with strings
attached, or do you have actual specific experience with Special
Assessment in this manner?
-Original Message-
From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:51 AM
To: af@afmug.com
Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
Yeah, good people find themselves in legal trouble all the time when
getting involved with guvmnt money. Less than zero tolerance for even
the appearance of evil.
-Original Message-
From: Travis Johnson
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:48 AM
To: af@afmug.com
Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
You better build in an additional 100% for overhead costs... I would
imagine you would have to start doing audited tax returns and
financials every year. You will also have to have someone tracking
every single expense and what it is attached to, etc.
Then you will have all the overhead and administrative costs for
managing the paperwork and government related money.
Travis
On 8/11/2016 10:21 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote:
Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project?
I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for
specific examples and advice from my provider friends here.
I'm not sure if it's called
Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
I would recommend steering away from a Special Assessment Area as a mechanism for funding FTTx. A bond with an SAA repayment still needs some form of backstop and in the case of Brigham City, the city placed liens on the properties as the backstop to the bonds. It worked to get the bond and fund the build, but resulted in lots of not-so-happy people. We don't plan on doing that ever again and connect customers now under our normal bond/debt structure with no liens. As far as Perry City, UTOPIA collectively paid for the conduit, and we did finish that city so anyone in the city can get services there now. Obviously, it wasn't in our best interests to let someone else come use that conduit. Steer as far from RUS as possible. The most devastating mishap in UTOPIA's history was using RUS loans to fund several builds and then have RUS mess it up. After many years of legal fighting we finally settled with them last year. Never again! This was the cause for the Perry City completion delay where it may have appeared to be an abandoned project for a few years. Roger On Thu, Aug 11, 2016 at 12:49 PM, Chuck McCown wrote: > Tell them you are adjoining Eagle Mountain... > > -Original Message- From: Sterling Jacobson > Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:36 AM > To: af@afmug.com > Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment > > Thanks for that, I'll give it a try, though I doubt they will see it as > rural. > We do have some large farms in the city still... > > -Original Message- > From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown > Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:32 AM > To: af@afmug.com > Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment > > Might be worth calling these guys: > http://www.cobank.com/About-CoBank.aspx > > -Original Message- > From: Sterling Jacobson > Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:28 AM > To: af@afmug.com > Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment > > Ah, ok. > > Fiber is way more capital intensive than the WISP I had, and requires > massive funding. > > So my traditional sources and avenues for borrowing don't even come close > to matching up with the demand and cost of construction. > > Too bad banks don't see fiber/conduit build as collateral. > > That is why I am investigating special assessment. > > -Original Message- > From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Travis Johnson > Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:17 AM > To: af@afmug.com > Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment > > Just saying that government money is never what it's cracked up to be. > I've never taken a single dime (loan, grant, tax, assessment, etc) and > probably never will, with any of my companies. It's just not worth all the > extra work and headaches. If you have a sound business plan and operation, > just borrow the money and get it done. > > There are all kinds of ways to be creative when it comes to funding. > Leasing equipment, 60 day term credit cards, lines of credit (secured with > assets of the business), or even home equity loans (4.25% right now, with > interest only payments), etc. > > Travis > > > On 8/11/2016 10:52 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: > >> Definitely. >> >> Travis, are you just generally saying the money comes with strings >> attached, or do you have actual specific experience with Special >> Assessment in this manner? >> >> -Original Message- >> From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown >> Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:51 AM >> To: af@afmug.com >> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment >> >> Yeah, good people find themselves in legal trouble all the time when >> getting involved with guvmnt money. Less than zero tolerance for even >> the appearance of evil. >> >> -Original Message- >> From: Travis Johnson >> Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:48 AM >> To: af@afmug.com >> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment >> >> You better build in an additional 100% for overhead costs... I would >> imagine you would have to start doing audited tax returns and >> financials every year. You will also have to have someone tracking >> every single expense and what it is attached to, etc. >> >> Then you will have all the overhead and administrative costs for >> managing the paperwork and government related money. >> >> Travis >> >> On 8/11/2016 10:21 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: >> >>> Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project? >>> >>> I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for >>> specific examples and advice fr
Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
Tell them you are adjoining Eagle Mountain... -Original Message- From: Sterling Jacobson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:36 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Thanks for that, I'll give it a try, though I doubt they will see it as rural. We do have some large farms in the city still... -Original Message- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:32 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Might be worth calling these guys: http://www.cobank.com/About-CoBank.aspx -Original Message- From: Sterling Jacobson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:28 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Ah, ok. Fiber is way more capital intensive than the WISP I had, and requires massive funding. So my traditional sources and avenues for borrowing don't even come close to matching up with the demand and cost of construction. Too bad banks don't see fiber/conduit build as collateral. That is why I am investigating special assessment. -Original Message- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Travis Johnson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:17 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Just saying that government money is never what it's cracked up to be. I've never taken a single dime (loan, grant, tax, assessment, etc) and probably never will, with any of my companies. It's just not worth all the extra work and headaches. If you have a sound business plan and operation, just borrow the money and get it done. There are all kinds of ways to be creative when it comes to funding. Leasing equipment, 60 day term credit cards, lines of credit (secured with assets of the business), or even home equity loans (4.25% right now, with interest only payments), etc. Travis On 8/11/2016 10:52 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: Definitely. Travis, are you just generally saying the money comes with strings attached, or do you have actual specific experience with Special Assessment in this manner? -Original Message- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:51 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Yeah, good people find themselves in legal trouble all the time when getting involved with guvmnt money. Less than zero tolerance for even the appearance of evil. -Original Message- From: Travis Johnson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:48 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment You better build in an additional 100% for overhead costs... I would imagine you would have to start doing audited tax returns and financials every year. You will also have to have someone tracking every single expense and what it is attached to, etc. Then you will have all the overhead and administrative costs for managing the paperwork and government related money. Travis On 8/11/2016 10:21 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project? I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for specific examples and advice from my provider friends here. I'm not sure if it's called something else in other states so this is what I have been told: You talk to a land developer, get them to partner up with your company and the city. They allow a tax or assessment item to be attached to the developed lot/unit for around 20 years. Sometime like $150 a year, so $3000 total over the period. The city council agrees and creates a bond type item for that and your company gets a check for the total amount times number of properties. Then you work with the developer to install all of the necessary stuff for internet, which is fiber in my case. And the new property owner has your service available from the get go, maybe with free install, and a $150 a year discount on the service for 20 years. Anyone done anything like this?
Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
Look into USDA matching grants for broadband. Can't remember if it's 20 or 30% up front, but they provide the rest. Avoid RUS, too many strings. On Aug 11, 2016 12:28 PM, "Sterling Jacobson" wrote: > Ah, ok. > > Fiber is way more capital intensive than the WISP I had, and requires > massive funding. > > So my traditional sources and avenues for borrowing don't even come close > to matching up with the demand and cost of construction. > > Too bad banks don't see fiber/conduit build as collateral. > > That is why I am investigating special assessment. > > -Original Message- > From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Travis Johnson > Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:17 AM > To: af@afmug.com > Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment > > Just saying that government money is never what it's cracked up to be. > I've never taken a single dime (loan, grant, tax, assessment, etc) and > probably never will, with any of my companies. It's just not worth all the > extra work and headaches. If you have a sound business plan and operation, > just borrow the money and get it done. > > There are all kinds of ways to be creative when it comes to funding. > Leasing equipment, 60 day term credit cards, lines of credit (secured with > assets of the business), or even home equity loans (4.25% right now, with > interest only payments), etc. > > Travis > > > On 8/11/2016 10:52 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: > > Definitely. > > > > Travis, are you just generally saying the money comes with strings > attached, or do you have actual specific experience with Special Assessment > in this manner? > > > > -Original Message- > > From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown > > Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:51 AM > > To: af@afmug.com > > Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment > > > > Yeah, good people find themselves in legal trouble all the time when > getting involved with guvmnt money. Less than zero tolerance for even the > appearance of evil. > > > > -Original Message- > > From: Travis Johnson > > Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:48 AM > > To: af@afmug.com > > Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment > > > > You better build in an additional 100% for overhead costs... I would > imagine you would have to start doing audited tax returns and financials > every year. You will also have to have someone tracking every single > expense and what it is attached to, etc. > > > > Then you will have all the overhead and administrative costs for > managing the paperwork and government related money. > > > > Travis > > > > On 8/11/2016 10:21 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: > >> Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project? > >> > >> I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for > >> specific examples and advice from my provider friends here. > >> > >> I'm not sure if it's called something else in other states so this is > >> what I have been told: > >> > >> You talk to a land developer, get them to partner up with your > >> company and the city. > >> They allow a tax or assessment item to be attached to the developed > >> lot/unit for around 20 years. > >> Sometime like $150 a year, so $3000 total over the period. > >> The city council agrees and creates a bond type item for that and > >> your company gets a check for the total amount times number of > properties. > >> Then you work with the developer to install all of the necessary > >> stuff for internet, which is fiber in my case. > >> > >> And the new property owner has your service available from the get > >> go, maybe with free install, and a $150 a year discount on the > >> service for > >> 20 years. > >> > >> Anyone done anything like this? > >> > >> > > > >
Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
Ok, that’s helpful. I haven’t talked to ALL banks of course, but any bank so far that I have talked to don’t fund anything unless its tied to real estate or equipment they can value at half market value and sell off immediately. That’s been my limited experience, so if you have a fiber friendly banking institute that breaks the mold, I am all ears. I think this special assessment deal is going to be all about who I know. I know a few key people in this already, so I do have a leg up. Which probably means I have a ten percent chance of making it go forward instead of a zero percent chance. From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Adam Moffett Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:56 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment I'm more in Travis's camp, but maybe for different reasons. The accounting and auditing stuff hasn't been difficult to deal withif you're keeping good records anyway, then it's not bad. You may just have to be more anal than you're used to. For everything we bought with the people's money we had to keep track of where it was installed and demonstrate that it actually was installed where we said (with photos, etc). Then an auditor came by to double check that we weren't making it all up. I agree the gov wants you to have a sound plan before they'll fund youand that if you really had a sound plan then a bank would fund it. I think one difference is that if the bank doesn't understand what you're doing, they'll just say no because it's not safe for them to get involved in things they don't understand. If the bureaucrat doesn't understand it they'll listen to you and pretend they're getting it. The other funny thing is that I don't think the projects chosen for funding are always the best proposalssometimes it's the people who talk the best line of BS or who have support from the right people. I'm a cynic, and my involvement in funding is peripheral, so take my 2c with a grain of salt. Sterling's idea is interesting and I hope he's successful with it. I'm not trying to be a killjoy. -- Original Message -- From: "Jaime Solorza" mailto:losguyswirel...@gmail.com>> To: "Animal Farm" mailto:af@afmug.com>> Sent: 8/11/2016 1:23:34 PM Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment The folks from Alaska I work for seem to know how to work the system... They keep getting some choice government contracts. On Aug 11, 2016 11:16 AM, "Travis Johnson" mailto:t...@ida.net>> wrote: Just saying that government money is never what it's cracked up to be. I've never taken a single dime (loan, grant, tax, assessment, etc) and probably never will, with any of my companies. It's just not worth all the extra work and headaches. If you have a sound business plan and operation, just borrow the money and get it done. There are all kinds of ways to be creative when it comes to funding. Leasing equipment, 60 day term credit cards, lines of credit (secured with assets of the business), or even home equity loans (4.25% right now, with interest only payments), etc. Travis On 8/11/2016 10:52 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: Definitely. Travis, are you just generally saying the money comes with strings attached, or do you have actual specific experience with Special Assessment in this manner? -Original Message- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com<mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com>] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:51 AM To: af@afmug.com<mailto:af@afmug.com> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Yeah, good people find themselves in legal trouble all the time when getting involved with guvmnt money. Less than zero tolerance for even the appearance of evil. -Original Message- From: Travis Johnson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:48 AM To: af@afmug.com<mailto:af@afmug.com> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment You better build in an additional 100% for overhead costs... I would imagine you would have to start doing audited tax returns and financials every year. You will also have to have someone tracking every single expense and what it is attached to, etc. Then you will have all the overhead and administrative costs for managing the paperwork and government related money. Travis On 8/11/2016 10:21 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project? I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for specific examples and advice from my provider friends here. I'm not sure if it's called something else in other states so this is what I have been told: You talk to a land developer, get them to partner up with your company and the city. They allow a tax or assessment item to be attached to the developed lot/unit for around 20
Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
I'm more in Travis's camp, but maybe for different reasons. The accounting and auditing stuff hasn't been difficult to deal withif you're keeping good records anyway, then it's not bad. You may just have to be more anal than you're used to. For everything we bought with the people's money we had to keep track of where it was installed and demonstrate that it actually was installed where we said (with photos, etc). Then an auditor came by to double check that we weren't making it all up. I agree the gov wants you to have a sound plan before they'll fund youand that if you really had a sound plan then a bank would fund it. I think one difference is that if the bank doesn't understand what you're doing, they'll just say no because it's not safe for them to get involved in things they don't understand. If the bureaucrat doesn't understand it they'll listen to you and pretend they're getting it. The other funny thing is that I don't think the projects chosen for funding are always the best proposalssometimes it's the people who talk the best line of BS or who have support from the right people. I'm a cynic, and my involvement in funding is peripheral, so take my 2c with a grain of salt. Sterling's idea is interesting and I hope he's successful with it. I'm not trying to be a killjoy. -- Original Message -- From: "Jaime Solorza" To: "Animal Farm" Sent: 8/11/2016 1:23:34 PM Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment The folks from Alaska I work for seem to know how to work the system... They keep getting some choice government contracts. On Aug 11, 2016 11:16 AM, "Travis Johnson" wrote: Just saying that government money is never what it's cracked up to be. I've never taken a single dime (loan, grant, tax, assessment, etc) and probably never will, with any of my companies. It's just not worth all the extra work and headaches. If you have a sound business plan and operation, just borrow the money and get it done. There are all kinds of ways to be creative when it comes to funding. Leasing equipment, 60 day term credit cards, lines of credit (secured with assets of the business), or even home equity loans (4.25% right now, with interest only payments), etc. Travis On 8/11/2016 10:52 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: Definitely. Travis, are you just generally saying the money comes with strings attached, or do you have actual specific experience with Special Assessment in this manner? -Original Message- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:51 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Yeah, good people find themselves in legal trouble all the time when getting involved with guvmnt money. Less than zero tolerance for even the appearance of evil. -Original Message- From: Travis Johnson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:48 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment You better build in an additional 100% for overhead costs... I would imagine you would have to start doing audited tax returns and financials every year. You will also have to have someone tracking every single expense and what it is attached to, etc. Then you will have all the overhead and administrative costs for managing the paperwork and government related money. Travis On 8/11/2016 10:21 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project? I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for specific examples and advice from my provider friends here. I'm not sure if it's called something else in other states so this is what I have been told: You talk to a land developer, get them to partner up with your company and the city. They allow a tax or assessment item to be attached to the developed lot/unit for around 20 years. Sometime like $150 a year, so $3000 total over the period. The city council agrees and creates a bond type item for that and your company gets a check for the total amount times number of properties. Then you work with the developer to install all of the necessary stuff for internet, which is fiber in my case. And the new property owner has your service available from the get go, maybe with free install, and a $150 a year discount on the service for 20 years. Anyone done anything like this?
Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
Thanks for that, I'll give it a try, though I doubt they will see it as rural. We do have some large farms in the city still... -Original Message- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:32 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Might be worth calling these guys: http://www.cobank.com/About-CoBank.aspx -Original Message- From: Sterling Jacobson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:28 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Ah, ok. Fiber is way more capital intensive than the WISP I had, and requires massive funding. So my traditional sources and avenues for borrowing don't even come close to matching up with the demand and cost of construction. Too bad banks don't see fiber/conduit build as collateral. That is why I am investigating special assessment. -Original Message- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Travis Johnson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:17 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Just saying that government money is never what it's cracked up to be. I've never taken a single dime (loan, grant, tax, assessment, etc) and probably never will, with any of my companies. It's just not worth all the extra work and headaches. If you have a sound business plan and operation, just borrow the money and get it done. There are all kinds of ways to be creative when it comes to funding. Leasing equipment, 60 day term credit cards, lines of credit (secured with assets of the business), or even home equity loans (4.25% right now, with interest only payments), etc. Travis On 8/11/2016 10:52 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: > Definitely. > > Travis, are you just generally saying the money comes with strings > attached, or do you have actual specific experience with Special > Assessment in this manner? > > -Original Message- > From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown > Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:51 AM > To: af@afmug.com > Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment > > Yeah, good people find themselves in legal trouble all the time when > getting involved with guvmnt money. Less than zero tolerance for even > the appearance of evil. > > -Original Message- > From: Travis Johnson > Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:48 AM > To: af@afmug.com > Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment > > You better build in an additional 100% for overhead costs... I would > imagine you would have to start doing audited tax returns and > financials every year. You will also have to have someone tracking > every single expense and what it is attached to, etc. > > Then you will have all the overhead and administrative costs for > managing the paperwork and government related money. > > Travis > > On 8/11/2016 10:21 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: >> Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project? >> >> I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for >> specific examples and advice from my provider friends here. >> >> I'm not sure if it's called something else in other states so this is >> what I have been told: >> >> You talk to a land developer, get them to partner up with your >> company and the city. >> They allow a tax or assessment item to be attached to the developed >> lot/unit for around 20 years. >> Sometime like $150 a year, so $3000 total over the period. >> The city council agrees and creates a bond type item for that and >> your company gets a check for the total amount times number of >> properties. >> Then you work with the developer to install all of the necessary >> stuff for internet, which is fiber in my case. >> >> And the new property owner has your service available from the get >> go, maybe with free install, and a $150 a year discount on the >> service for >> 20 years. >> >> Anyone done anything like this? >> >> >
Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
Might be worth calling these guys: http://www.cobank.com/About-CoBank.aspx -Original Message- From: Sterling Jacobson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:28 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Ah, ok. Fiber is way more capital intensive than the WISP I had, and requires massive funding. So my traditional sources and avenues for borrowing don't even come close to matching up with the demand and cost of construction. Too bad banks don't see fiber/conduit build as collateral. That is why I am investigating special assessment. -Original Message- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Travis Johnson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:17 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Just saying that government money is never what it's cracked up to be. I've never taken a single dime (loan, grant, tax, assessment, etc) and probably never will, with any of my companies. It's just not worth all the extra work and headaches. If you have a sound business plan and operation, just borrow the money and get it done. There are all kinds of ways to be creative when it comes to funding. Leasing equipment, 60 day term credit cards, lines of credit (secured with assets of the business), or even home equity loans (4.25% right now, with interest only payments), etc. Travis On 8/11/2016 10:52 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: Definitely. Travis, are you just generally saying the money comes with strings attached, or do you have actual specific experience with Special Assessment in this manner? -Original Message- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:51 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Yeah, good people find themselves in legal trouble all the time when getting involved with guvmnt money. Less than zero tolerance for even the appearance of evil. -Original Message- From: Travis Johnson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:48 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment You better build in an additional 100% for overhead costs... I would imagine you would have to start doing audited tax returns and financials every year. You will also have to have someone tracking every single expense and what it is attached to, etc. Then you will have all the overhead and administrative costs for managing the paperwork and government related money. Travis On 8/11/2016 10:21 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project? I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for specific examples and advice from my provider friends here. I'm not sure if it's called something else in other states so this is what I have been told: You talk to a land developer, get them to partner up with your company and the city. They allow a tax or assessment item to be attached to the developed lot/unit for around 20 years. Sometime like $150 a year, so $3000 total over the period. The city council agrees and creates a bond type item for that and your company gets a check for the total amount times number of properties. Then you work with the developer to install all of the necessary stuff for internet, which is fiber in my case. And the new property owner has your service available from the get go, maybe with free install, and a $150 a year discount on the service for 20 years. Anyone done anything like this?
Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
Ah, ok. Fiber is way more capital intensive than the WISP I had, and requires massive funding. So my traditional sources and avenues for borrowing don't even come close to matching up with the demand and cost of construction. Too bad banks don't see fiber/conduit build as collateral. That is why I am investigating special assessment. -Original Message- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Travis Johnson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:17 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Just saying that government money is never what it's cracked up to be. I've never taken a single dime (loan, grant, tax, assessment, etc) and probably never will, with any of my companies. It's just not worth all the extra work and headaches. If you have a sound business plan and operation, just borrow the money and get it done. There are all kinds of ways to be creative when it comes to funding. Leasing equipment, 60 day term credit cards, lines of credit (secured with assets of the business), or even home equity loans (4.25% right now, with interest only payments), etc. Travis On 8/11/2016 10:52 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: > Definitely. > > Travis, are you just generally saying the money comes with strings attached, > or do you have actual specific experience with Special Assessment in this > manner? > > -Original Message- > From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown > Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:51 AM > To: af@afmug.com > Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment > > Yeah, good people find themselves in legal trouble all the time when getting > involved with guvmnt money. Less than zero tolerance for even the appearance > of evil. > > -Original Message- > From: Travis Johnson > Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:48 AM > To: af@afmug.com > Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment > > You better build in an additional 100% for overhead costs... I would imagine > you would have to start doing audited tax returns and financials every year. > You will also have to have someone tracking every single expense and what it > is attached to, etc. > > Then you will have all the overhead and administrative costs for managing the > paperwork and government related money. > > Travis > > On 8/11/2016 10:21 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: >> Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project? >> >> I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for >> specific examples and advice from my provider friends here. >> >> I'm not sure if it's called something else in other states so this is >> what I have been told: >> >> You talk to a land developer, get them to partner up with your >> company and the city. >> They allow a tax or assessment item to be attached to the developed >> lot/unit for around 20 years. >> Sometime like $150 a year, so $3000 total over the period. >> The city council agrees and creates a bond type item for that and >> your company gets a check for the total amount times number of properties. >> Then you work with the developer to install all of the necessary >> stuff for internet, which is fiber in my case. >> >> And the new property owner has your service available from the get >> go, maybe with free install, and a $150 a year discount on the >> service for >> 20 years. >> >> Anyone done anything like this? >> >> >
Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
The folks from Alaska I work for seem to know how to work the system... They keep getting some choice government contracts. On Aug 11, 2016 11:16 AM, "Travis Johnson" wrote: > Just saying that government money is never what it's cracked up to be. > I've never taken a single dime (loan, grant, tax, assessment, etc) and > probably never will, with any of my companies. It's just not worth all the > extra work and headaches. If you have a sound business plan and operation, > just borrow the money and get it done. > > There are all kinds of ways to be creative when it comes to funding. > Leasing equipment, 60 day term credit cards, lines of credit (secured with > assets of the business), or even home equity loans (4.25% right now, with > interest only payments), etc. > > Travis > > > On 8/11/2016 10:52 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: > >> Definitely. >> >> Travis, are you just generally saying the money comes with strings >> attached, or do you have actual specific experience with Special Assessment >> in this manner? >> >> -Original Message- >> From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown >> Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:51 AM >> To: af@afmug.com >> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment >> >> Yeah, good people find themselves in legal trouble all the time when >> getting involved with guvmnt money. Less than zero tolerance for even the >> appearance of evil. >> >> -Original Message- >> From: Travis Johnson >> Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:48 AM >> To: af@afmug.com >> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment >> >> You better build in an additional 100% for overhead costs... I would >> imagine you would have to start doing audited tax returns and financials >> every year. You will also have to have someone tracking every single >> expense and what it is attached to, etc. >> >> Then you will have all the overhead and administrative costs for managing >> the paperwork and government related money. >> >> Travis >> >> On 8/11/2016 10:21 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: >> >>> Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project? >>> >>> I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for specific >>> examples and advice from my provider friends here. >>> >>> I'm not sure if it's called something else in other states so this is >>> what I have been told: >>> >>> You talk to a land developer, get them to partner up with your company >>> and the city. >>> They allow a tax or assessment item to be attached to the developed >>> lot/unit for around 20 years. >>> Sometime like $150 a year, so $3000 total over the period. >>> The city council agrees and creates a bond type item for that and your >>> company gets a check for the total amount times number of properties. >>> Then you work with the developer to install all of the necessary stuff >>> for internet, which is fiber in my case. >>> >>> And the new property owner has your service available from the get go, >>> maybe with free install, and a $150 a year discount on the service for >>> 20 years. >>> >>> Anyone done anything like this? >>> >>> >>> >> >
Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
Just saying that government money is never what it's cracked up to be. I've never taken a single dime (loan, grant, tax, assessment, etc) and probably never will, with any of my companies. It's just not worth all the extra work and headaches. If you have a sound business plan and operation, just borrow the money and get it done. There are all kinds of ways to be creative when it comes to funding. Leasing equipment, 60 day term credit cards, lines of credit (secured with assets of the business), or even home equity loans (4.25% right now, with interest only payments), etc. Travis On 8/11/2016 10:52 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: Definitely. Travis, are you just generally saying the money comes with strings attached, or do you have actual specific experience with Special Assessment in this manner? -Original Message- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:51 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Yeah, good people find themselves in legal trouble all the time when getting involved with guvmnt money. Less than zero tolerance for even the appearance of evil. -Original Message- From: Travis Johnson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:48 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment You better build in an additional 100% for overhead costs... I would imagine you would have to start doing audited tax returns and financials every year. You will also have to have someone tracking every single expense and what it is attached to, etc. Then you will have all the overhead and administrative costs for managing the paperwork and government related money. Travis On 8/11/2016 10:21 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project? I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for specific examples and advice from my provider friends here. I'm not sure if it's called something else in other states so this is what I have been told: You talk to a land developer, get them to partner up with your company and the city. They allow a tax or assessment item to be attached to the developed lot/unit for around 20 years. Sometime like $150 a year, so $3000 total over the period. The city council agrees and creates a bond type item for that and your company gets a check for the total amount times number of properties. Then you work with the developer to install all of the necessary stuff for internet, which is fiber in my case. And the new property owner has your service available from the get go, maybe with free install, and a $150 a year discount on the service for 20 years. Anyone done anything like this?
Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
Definitely. Travis, are you just generally saying the money comes with strings attached, or do you have actual specific experience with Special Assessment in this manner? -Original Message- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:51 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Yeah, good people find themselves in legal trouble all the time when getting involved with guvmnt money. Less than zero tolerance for even the appearance of evil. -Original Message- From: Travis Johnson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:48 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment You better build in an additional 100% for overhead costs... I would imagine you would have to start doing audited tax returns and financials every year. You will also have to have someone tracking every single expense and what it is attached to, etc. Then you will have all the overhead and administrative costs for managing the paperwork and government related money. Travis On 8/11/2016 10:21 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: > Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project? > > I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for specific > examples and advice from my provider friends here. > > I'm not sure if it's called something else in other states so this is > what I have been told: > > You talk to a land developer, get them to partner up with your company > and the city. > They allow a tax or assessment item to be attached to the developed > lot/unit for around 20 years. > Sometime like $150 a year, so $3000 total over the period. > The city council agrees and creates a bond type item for that and your > company gets a check for the total amount times number of properties. > Then you work with the developer to install all of the necessary stuff > for internet, which is fiber in my case. > > And the new property owner has your service available from the get go, > maybe with free install, and a $150 a year discount on the service for > 20 years. > > Anyone done anything like this? > >
Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
Yeah, good people find themselves in legal trouble all the time when getting involved with guvmnt money. Less than zero tolerance for even the appearance of evil. -Original Message- From: Travis Johnson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:48 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment You better build in an additional 100% for overhead costs... I would imagine you would have to start doing audited tax returns and financials every year. You will also have to have someone tracking every single expense and what it is attached to, etc. Then you will have all the overhead and administrative costs for managing the paperwork and government related money. Travis On 8/11/2016 10:21 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project? I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for specific examples and advice from my provider friends here. I'm not sure if it's called something else in other states so this is what I have been told: You talk to a land developer, get them to partner up with your company and the city. They allow a tax or assessment item to be attached to the developed lot/unit for around 20 years. Sometime like $150 a year, so $3000 total over the period. The city council agrees and creates a bond type item for that and your company gets a check for the total amount times number of properties. Then you work with the developer to install all of the necessary stuff for internet, which is fiber in my case. And the new property owner has your service available from the get go, maybe with free install, and a $150 a year discount on the service for 20 years. Anyone done anything like this?
Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
You better build in an additional 100% for overhead costs... I would imagine you would have to start doing audited tax returns and financials every year. You will also have to have someone tracking every single expense and what it is attached to, etc. Then you will have all the overhead and administrative costs for managing the paperwork and government related money. Travis On 8/11/2016 10:21 AM, Sterling Jacobson wrote: Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project? I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for specific examples and advice from my provider friends here. I'm not sure if it's called something else in other states so this is what I have been told: You talk to a land developer, get them to partner up with your company and the city. They allow a tax or assessment item to be attached to the developed lot/unit for around 20 years. Sometime like $150 a year, so $3000 total over the period. The city council agrees and creates a bond type item for that and your company gets a check for the total amount times number of properties. Then you work with the developer to install all of the necessary stuff for internet, which is fiber in my case. And the new property owner has your service available from the get go, maybe with free install, and a $150 a year discount on the service for 20 years. Anyone done anything like this?
Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
I agree, Utopia had severe issues. That is what I am trying to learn from and avoid. -Original Message- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:30 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Brigham City was a disaster. I went up at the request of the city council several times to see if we could fix the problem. UTOPIA told BC that they owned all the OSP and it didn't matter that the city had paid off the debt they did not have control over the fiber. It was worse in Perry. There was duct everywhere but no fiber. The city had paid for the duct. UTOPIA still claimed total ownership and would not let me put fiber in that duct. -Original Message- From: Sterling Jacobson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:27 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Chuck, I know very little at the moment, but am investigating the possibility. I do know Utoptia did something similar in Brigham City I think, and there might be a new example in Idaho, just waiting on particulars. I also have another interesting funding example I am pursuing in one neighborhood, but can't talk about it until it succeeds or fails. -Original Message- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:24 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment No, but tell me more... please! -Original Message- From: Sterling Jacobson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:21 AM To: 'af@afmug.com' Subject: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project? I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for specific examples and advice from my provider friends here. I'm not sure if it's called something else in other states so this is what I have been told: You talk to a land developer, get them to partner up with your company and the city. They allow a tax or assessment item to be attached to the developed lot/unit for around 20 years. Sometime like $150 a year, so $3000 total over the period. The city council agrees and creates a bond type item for that and your company gets a check for the total amount times number of properties. Then you work with the developer to install all of the necessary stuff for internet, which is fiber in my case. And the new property owner has your service available from the get go, maybe with free install, and a $150 a year discount on the service for 20 years. Anyone done anything like this?
Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
I love watching you guys think :) - Original Message - From: Sterling Jacobson To: af@afmug.com Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:27 AM Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Chuck, I know very little at the moment, but am investigating the possibility. I do know Utoptia did something similar in Brigham City I think, and there might be a new example in Idaho, just waiting on particulars. I also have another interesting funding example I am pursuing in one neighborhood, but can't talk about it until it succeeds or fails. -Original Message- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:24 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment No, but tell me more... please! -Original Message- From: Sterling Jacobson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:21 AM To: 'af@afmug.com' Subject: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project? I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for specific examples and advice from my provider friends here. I'm not sure if it's called something else in other states so this is what I have been told: You talk to a land developer, get them to partner up with your company and the city. They allow a tax or assessment item to be attached to the developed lot/unit for around 20 years. Sometime like $150 a year, so $3000 total over the period. The city council agrees and creates a bond type item for that and your company gets a check for the total amount times number of properties. Then you work with the developer to install all of the necessary stuff for internet, which is fiber in my case. And the new property owner has your service available from the get go, maybe with free install, and a $150 a year discount on the service for 20 years. Anyone done anything like this?
Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
Brigham City was a disaster. I went up at the request of the city council several times to see if we could fix the problem. UTOPIA told BC that they owned all the OSP and it didn't matter that the city had paid off the debt they did not have control over the fiber. It was worse in Perry. There was duct everywhere but no fiber. The city had paid for the duct. UTOPIA still claimed total ownership and would not let me put fiber in that duct. -Original Message- From: Sterling Jacobson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:27 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Chuck, I know very little at the moment, but am investigating the possibility. I do know Utoptia did something similar in Brigham City I think, and there might be a new example in Idaho, just waiting on particulars. I also have another interesting funding example I am pursuing in one neighborhood, but can't talk about it until it succeeds or fails. -Original Message- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:24 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment No, but tell me more... please! -Original Message- From: Sterling Jacobson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:21 AM To: 'af@afmug.com' Subject: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project? I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for specific examples and advice from my provider friends here. I'm not sure if it's called something else in other states so this is what I have been told: You talk to a land developer, get them to partner up with your company and the city. They allow a tax or assessment item to be attached to the developed lot/unit for around 20 years. Sometime like $150 a year, so $3000 total over the period. The city council agrees and creates a bond type item for that and your company gets a check for the total amount times number of properties. Then you work with the developer to install all of the necessary stuff for internet, which is fiber in my case. And the new property owner has your service available from the get go, maybe with free install, and a $150 a year discount on the service for 20 years. Anyone done anything like this?
Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
Chuck, I know very little at the moment, but am investigating the possibility. I do know Utoptia did something similar in Brigham City I think, and there might be a new example in Idaho, just waiting on particulars. I also have another interesting funding example I am pursuing in one neighborhood, but can't talk about it until it succeeds or fails. -Original Message- From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:24 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment No, but tell me more... please! -Original Message- From: Sterling Jacobson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:21 AM To: 'af@afmug.com' Subject: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project? I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for specific examples and advice from my provider friends here. I'm not sure if it's called something else in other states so this is what I have been told: You talk to a land developer, get them to partner up with your company and the city. They allow a tax or assessment item to be attached to the developed lot/unit for around 20 years. Sometime like $150 a year, so $3000 total over the period. The city council agrees and creates a bond type item for that and your company gets a check for the total amount times number of properties. Then you work with the developer to install all of the necessary stuff for internet, which is fiber in my case. And the new property owner has your service available from the get go, maybe with free install, and a $150 a year discount on the service for 20 years. Anyone done anything like this?
Re: [AFMUG] Special Assessment
No, but tell me more... please! -Original Message- From: Sterling Jacobson Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 10:21 AM To: 'af@afmug.com' Subject: [AFMUG] Special Assessment Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project? I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for specific examples and advice from my provider friends here. I'm not sure if it's called something else in other states so this is what I have been told: You talk to a land developer, get them to partner up with your company and the city. They allow a tax or assessment item to be attached to the developed lot/unit for around 20 years. Sometime like $150 a year, so $3000 total over the period. The city council agrees and creates a bond type item for that and your company gets a check for the total amount times number of properties. Then you work with the developer to install all of the necessary stuff for internet, which is fiber in my case. And the new property owner has your service available from the get go, maybe with free install, and a $150 a year discount on the service for 20 years. Anyone done anything like this?
[AFMUG] Special Assessment
Has anyone here ever done a special assessment funded project? I have a couple of examples in Utah/Idaho, but am looking for specific examples and advice from my provider friends here. I'm not sure if it's called something else in other states so this is what I have been told: You talk to a land developer, get them to partner up with your company and the city. They allow a tax or assessment item to be attached to the developed lot/unit for around 20 years. Sometime like $150 a year, so $3000 total over the period. The city council agrees and creates a bond type item for that and your company gets a check for the total amount times number of properties. Then you work with the developer to install all of the necessary stuff for internet, which is fiber in my case. And the new property owner has your service available from the get go, maybe with free install, and a $150 a year discount on the service for 20 years. Anyone done anything like this?
