1. CBS Adviser for Aberdeenshire and Angus
Toby Sandison,
CBS Adviser for Aberdeenshire and Angus

2. CBS has been set up by the government to:
Why CBS?
CBS has been set up by the government to:
support communities,
which will not benefit from the DSSB roll out (the hardest to reach premises in Scotland),
to develop affordable and robust infrastructure, which has scalability & flexibility built in.
Chantal
The number of premises not expected to be covered by DSSB is changing as technologies improve and the contract goes further in gaining best value but a broad estimate is that the final 5% of Scotland covers around 120,000 premises.
CBS operates across all of Scotland
CBS operates at the margins of the intervention area covered by the DSSB rollout. It is there to reach those hardest to reach premises often isolated from mainstream infrastructure and therefore the most expensive to reach proemises.

3. What type of community is supported?
Many different types of community are supported
Geographic communities
Community groups if part of a community organisation
Communities of interest (e.g. broadband)
Pre-existing or newly established
To be able to receive funding an appropriate organisation will need to established. CBS helps to constitute if an organisation is not already in place.
Funding to Inspire, Design and Build
Chantal
CBS does not adhere to any specific definition of community because communities can be so varied and while they sometimes reflect a particular shared geography, often CBS s working with communities of interest: those people and businesses coming together to address a common interest: in this case getting better access to fast broadband.
The communities that CBS does work with need to be able to have the financial diligence and capacity to take ownership of and manage the asset they will develop as a result of CBS funding. CBS advisors support communities to ensure their organisation has the appropriate governance in place.

4. What kind of solution can a community get?
CBS supports communities to decide what they want/need and what suits the community best.
Technology solutions including:
Fibre to the Home;
Wireless to the home;
Hybrid fibre/ wireless
Supplier designed and built or community self build
Funding to Inspire, Design and Build
Chantal
One of the most important aspects of the way in which CBS operates is that the communities need to own the asset and as such they are required to take the lead in making the decision to progress with a CBS project. However the advisors support this process and help the community understand everything that is involved in going forward.
The types of projects that result are therefore very individual and suit local circumstances but broadly they fit into the categories noted on the slide.
Explain that FTTP may be expensive and not vfm or not enough budget

5. What does CBS offer? Support to help communities identify needs
Technical expertise to identify most appropriate solution
Expertise to procure the best value option
Support to manage the process
Funding
Chantal
As I have already mentioned CBS advisors support communities in quite a number of ways:
Broadly we support the communities to develop the project but we do bring in relevant technical and professional support as necessary and this includes:
Technical design expertise to identify the most robust and long term solution
Procurement support to help work through the procurement process
Legal advice to support development of contracts
Project management advice and support to manage the project
Surrounding all of this the CBS advisor remains the main point of contact and ensures these services are used effectively, while also supporting the community to keep its members engaged in the process.

6. Three stages of funding support
Scoping and demand stimulation (100%)
Business Planning, Project planning and procurement support(100%)
Capital funding for build and commissioning
Funding to Inspire, Design and Build
Chantal
The three stages of funding support described on the slide take the project through a necessary evolution of first thinking about the demand for the project. This data can help create the business case at a later stage.
A second stage around technical design advice helps to create realistic expectations within the community and help them understand the limitations of the topography or how backhaul location affects capital costs.
The third stage of funding is the major element and the only element that is not for 100% of costs. Additional contributions are often funded by the cost of connection for each premise. Some communities have access to other funds and where possible these contribute to the capital costs.

7. Stages of a Community Project
Engage Community
Identify white post codes (DSSB no build post codes)
Issue demand survey
Complete scoping document
CBS project approval
Issue OMR & State Aid Public Consultation document
Define project area
Establish a Community Representative Legal Entity
Undertake Procurement Process
Network Build
Natalie

8. Success criteria for CBS projects
Technical solution is:
Tendered on a technology neutral, open, fair, transparent and competitive basis
Solution must meet technology guidelines under State Aid legal requirements i.e.
open access
support Next Generation Speeds >30Mbps
A robust, flexible and scalable solution
Provides a quality service at market rates
Funding to Inspire, Design and Build
Neil
The funding CBS provides is public funding and because we fund such a significant proportion of the costs, the communities we work with are obliged to follow public procurement regulations. In addition CBS needs to ensure that, in granting state aid, pour projects comply with those conditions.
CBS has a strong ethos, based around HIE’s strategic direction, of supporting enterprise and as such we look to support projects that can sustain themselves once operating.
Further, CBS is very aware that as technologies advance, the schemes we fund now will most likely require replaced or upgraded in the future and the operating cost models we support the communities to develop encompass these features.

9. Delivery Models Turnkey – Supplier designed, Built, Owned & Operated
Design, Build & Operate - Community Owned
Design & Build - Community Owned & Operated
Design, Support & Training – Community Owned, Built and Operated.
Or any variation of the above depending on market response and community commitment.
Neil Watt

10. Project Challenges
Timeframe – lengthy process to adhere to Procurement State Aid regulations;
Lead time to build and deliver services (planning consents/ licences etc.)
Backhaul affordability and availability;
Maximisation of coverage for given budget;
Sustainability of business model for relatively small customer base;
Community volunteers time and effort;
Retain community engagement and commitment throughout the project.
Neil Watt

11. CHARLOTTE AND PETE
Questions?