Achieving nationwide high-speed broadband networks is key to both the establishment of equal living conditions as well as all citizens gaining access to and participating in the information society. However, the availability of broadband in rural areas is still low. Overcoming the gap between population-sparse and population-dense areas is a key issue on the information society agenda. Decision-makers - at municipal and national levels - are facing increasing pressure to overcome these discrepancies. This book delivers insights for immediate action on two levels: The management perspective addresses the economic feasibility, while the legal perspective provides municipal decision-makers with FAQ-type guidelines for the swift implementation and legal applicability of rural broadband rollout solutions.

Autorentext
Prof. Dr. Bernd Holznagel, Ass. jur. Sebastian Deckers, Ass. jur. Marc Schramm, Universität Münster
Prof. Dr. Dres. h.c. Arnold Picot, Dr. Nico Grove, Universität München

Zusammenfassung
Preface The importance of broadband Internet is a topic that is receiving much attention. The availability of broadband in rural areas has been low; the overcoming of this gap - tween population-sparse and population-dense areas has been a key issue on the - formation society agenda. Decision-makers at municipal and national levels are facing increasing pressure to overcome these discrepancies. This book seeks to provide insights for immediate action on two levels. Firstly, the management perspective addresses the economic relevance of broadband and feasible business models. The second part of the book takes a legal perspective, providing - nicipal decision-makers with guidelines for the swift implementation and the legal f- sibility of rural broadband rollout solutions. This dual approach combines the legal perspective with the field of business administration as well as economic restrictions with the field of law. Interdisciplinarity is crucial within this context. Allowances must be made for the form and format of both parts of the book. The authors have chosen to retain the legal and economic specifics in order to ensure usability in both areas. This book predominantly addresses people working with business models, broadband - searchers as well as decision-makers and politicians evaluating the legal feasibility of broadband rollout projects at a municipal level. Therefore, the first part of the book focuses on the economical feasibility of rural broadband rollout strategies including an international comparative analysis as well as the sustainability of broadband technologies.

Inhalt
General introduction.- General introduction.- Public engagement for infrastructure provision: Case studies on successful FTTH roll-out strategies.- Relevance of broadband.- The qualification of broadband access technologies.- The mechanisms of infrastructure enforcement.- The effectiveness of infrastructure delivery models.- Explorative case studies on FTTH infrastructure roll-out projects.- The shortcomings of the case studies.- Conclusions and recommendations.- Legal applicability analysis.- Problemstellung.- Kommunale Breitband-Infrastruktur.- Rahmenbedingungen von Kooperationen.- Conclusions of legal considerations.