Q: When do I need to get my Digital Enablement Plan to MBIE?

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1 Questions and Answers on Digital Enablement Plans Q: What is a Digital Enablement Plan? A: A Digital Enablement Plan (DEP) provides a means for local government to outline initiatives both planned and underway related to digital enablement. It is intended that authorities identify ways in which they can work within their communities to maximise digital participation and encourage the effective use of digital technologies. We want territorial authorities to demonstrate how their communities can achieve the social and economic benefits of improved connectivity. Q: How can a DEP add value for territorial authorities? All authorities are strongly encouraged to design and implement a DEP, either solo or in collaboration with other territorial authorities. It is recommended that authorities maintain and utilise DEPs as an ongoing tool to stimulate action and community engagement regarding the use of digital technologies. Territorial authorities may want to consider how the digital initiatives outlined in their DEP can be incorporated into wider district plans. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) recommends that territorial authorities submit DEPs to supplement their responses to the Registrations of Interest Support (ROI - Support). DEPs will serve to inform central government of plans to encourage the use of digital infrastructure. As part of the assessment process for areas to receive investment under the Ultra-Fast Broadband extension (UFB2), Rural Broadband Initiative extension (RBI2) and Mobile Black Spot Fund (MBSF), DEPs are of value in demonstrating how authorities are prepared to commit to enhancing digital participation, and demonstrating the uses which will be made of existing and potential new digital infrastructure in the future. It is also recommended that authorities continue to update DEPs to keep both central government, and most importantly, their communities, informed of important digital initiatives which can contribute to economic and social outcomes. Q: When do I need to get my Digital Enablement Plan to MBIE? A: Completed DEPs are due by 12pm (noon) on 18 September No extension is possible to this date, given the current expected timetable for the UFB2 Request for Proposals (UFB2 RFP). Q: Can I use an existing digital strategy or plan? A: Yes, you have the option of submitting a digital plan that your territorial authority may have developed before the ROI Support process. This could be in the form of an existing digital strategy for your district/region or a similar strategic document that outlines how you will increase digital participation and uptake of fast broadband and mobile communications. Alternatively you can use the Digital Enablement Plan template on the MBIE website as a guide to assist you to think about ways in which to enhance the benefits of digital technologies in your communities.

2 Q: Who should develop the DEP? A: Authorities that submitted responses to the ROI Support are strongly encouraged to submit a DEP. This may be a council, economic development agency or other body acting on behalf of the territorial authority or group of territorial authorities. Authorities may submit a joint DEP, for example a DEP prepared in conjunction with other councils within its region, or a DEP prepared by a regional council or economic development agency on behalf of all councils within that region. Note that even if a territorial authority has submitted a ROI Support response by itself, it may submit a jointly-prepared DEP with other councils, and vice versa. Q: How important is the DEP to central government s assessment process for UFB2, RBI2 and MBSF? A: A DEP is important because it tells central government which communities are prepared to make good use of the infrastructure and maximise the opportunity of being connected to fast broadband and mobile communications. The government will conduct assessments of proposed areas based on factors including ROI Support responses, DEPs, and socio-economic considerations. While CFH will be conducting the evaluation of bids received for each town/area included in respondents proposals to the UFB2 RFP, central government will have an opportunity to assess CFH s evaluation of each town/area based on factors including ROI Support responses, DEPs, and socio-economic considerations, and this will assist in the assessment of which areas should be prioritised for negotiations. DEPs will also inform potential respondents to the UFB2 RFP of which territorial authorities are prepared to work with respondents. Potential UFB2 RFP respondents are encouraged to work with territorial authorities to explore the ways in which the commitments made by territorial authorities can facilitate the infrastructure rollout and reduce the costs and other risks of deployment. While a DEP is not mandatory in order for areas within a district to be considered to receive new or improved broadband or mobile coverage, it is intended that all territorial authorities take this opportunity to consider the importance of a digital strategy for their communities. Q: Do I need a DEP for each of the initiatives, i.e. one for UFB2, RBI2 and MBSF, or a single DEP that covers them all? A: There should only be one DEP for each geographical area, regardless of which of the government programmes you have registered interest in. However, you may wish to highlight any projects or initiatives that are aligned to any particular programme or any particular location within your district. Q: What is critical to include in the DEP?

3 The Digital Enablement Plan template and workshop presentation provide a good overview of what is expected within the DEP or other digital plan you submit. The key parts to consider, as a guide, are: Leadership explaining who will lead the projects and what resources are available to ensure the outcomes are delivered. Business Growth explaining what projects will be undertaken to increase uptake and use of digital connectivity across the businesses in your district. Community Enablement explaining what projects will be undertaken to increase community participation and maximise the opportunities available from fast broadband and mobile communications. In your DEP you may also wish to provide evidence of the process of developing the DEP, including any community and/or business consultation undertaken, what groups were engaged and any research which informed the DEP. Q: Will central government fund the DEP projects? A: The UFB2, RBI2 and MBSF programmes involve the Government contributing substantially to the capital expenditure on telecommunications infrastructure. The funding allocation for the UFB2, RBI2 and MBSF programmes will not be put towards local government operational projects. We anticipate that local projects can and should complement Crown-funded infrastructure. If costs are required to implement DEP projects, this will fall to the submitting authority or locally identified third parties or businesses. This is why we are looking for DEPs to include feasible projects which can be realistically implemented by authorities. Authorities should therefore tailor projects to their specific context and available resources. Q: Do I need to do a DEP for the Mobile Black Spot Fund (MBSF)? A: The aim of the MBSF is to extend mobile coverage into black spot areas, including State Highways and popular tourist areas. This in turn should increase mobile connectivity to rural and remote areas in order to improve the safety of people and property on State Highways, increase social inclusion, boost economic development and enhance the tourist experience at important tourist destinations. Territorial authorities are not required to submit one DEP for each programme (i.e. councils are not required to submit one DEP for UFB2, one DEP for RBI2, and one DEP for MBSF). It is up to the discretion of individual councils to illustrate which benefits of these programmes will be of greatest advantage to their communities. The DEP asks that councils identify projects to support business growth and community development and we expect that businesses and communities could also gain benefit from MBSF infrastructure. Q: How many projects do I need to include in the DEP?

4 A. The DEP template recommends two or three projects as a guide but the final number you include will depend upon a number of factors: the feedback from the community and businesses; leadership team or governance team support; and ability to fund and deliver the projects. Q: Do all projects need to be fully costed and a figure included in the DEP? A: The DEP template provides guidance on the types of projects that you may wish to consider; a number of the examples provided include a cost to implement. These examples are provided for guidance. It is not essential to include full costings for projects, but the DEP is likely to be considered stronger if proposals include estimated costs. Ideally, the DEP should include an indication of how the projects will be delivered, which may require councils to take into account internal resources, third parties or local businesses and an indication of how costs to deliver these projects, if applicable, will be covered. Authorities may wish to note in their DEPs that funding for projects may be subject to council approval. Q: Will the council be held accountable for the implementation of the DEP and any costs included in the plan? A: Territorial authorities will not be held accountable for the projects or the costs in the DEP but it is expected that the authority will implement the projects outlined. We are aware that plans outlined in the DEP may, depending on their form, need to be subject to ratification by the relevant council. This should be referenced when identifying the key challenges/risks of projects. What we are looking for is that councils have identified feasible ways to make good use of the infrastructure; therefore while DEP projects are not required to be underway before areas have been selected, information supporting the viability and potential benefits of DEP projects is valuable and will be assessed accordingly. Q: Is there an expectation that the council will implement the DEP projects if infrastructure is not rolled out to a particular area? A: It is intended that across the three programmes, a high percentage of territorial authorities throughout New Zealand will have their communities benefit from expanded broadband and mobile coverage. MBIE considers that DEPs have value for councils beyond the UFB2, RBI2 and MBSF programmes and recommends that councils use DEPs as on ongoing tool to stimulate council action and community engagement to make use of the opportunities created by digital infrastructure. Regardless of the particular areas which do or do not receive new infrastructure under any of the three programmes, councils are encouraged to continue with the implementation of the DEP projects and respond to the feedback received from the community and businesses.

5 Q: What is the government s timeframe for informing authorities of the areas to receive new broadband or mobile coverage? A: The UFB2 RFP process is expected to be completed in the first half of We currently expect Requests for Proposals for the RBI2 and MBSF programmes will be issued in the second quarter of Announcements on areas to receive new broadband or mobile investment will be made when deployment contracts are finalised with successful respondents. This is likely to take place in the first half of 2016 for UFB2, and later in 2016 for the RBI2 and MBSF programmes. Q: Shouldn t councils develop DEPs for their communities and businesses once the level of funding/infrastructure has been committed, to avoid raising expectations and being unable to deliver? A: Authorities are encouraged to develop and implement DEPs as a valuable tool to ensure initiatives regarding digital technologies are taken into consideration as part of wider council strategy. As part of the selection process for the UFB2, RBI2 and MBSF programmes, it is intended that DEPs serve to demonstrate authorities commitment to enhancing digital participation, and demonstrating the uses which will be made of existing and potential new digital infrastructure. It is therefore important for this selection process that central government is able to see which authorities have digital plans in place before, rather than after, the selection process is concluded. Under the UFB2, RBI2 and MBSF programmes, central government is contributing substantially to the capital costs of digital infrastructure, rather than local government operational projects. If costs are required to implement DEP projects, this will fall to the submitting authority. Authorities should therefore include in their DEPs feasible projects which can be realistically implemented by authorities and accordingly should tailor projects to the local context and available resources. Authorities may want to signal to their communities what initiatives may be conditional on upgraded broadband or mobile services. Q: Are territorial authorities required to keep their DEPs confidential? A: The DEP is a document owned by territorial authorities, and as such it is up to authorities to publish this document if they wish. We encourage authorities to share their DEPs with their communities and any stakeholders. Q: If unsure about developing a DEP, who do we ask for help?

6 You can ask questions about the DEP template and process recommended in the DEP guide by ing If councils have questions about the process, deadlines, information requested in the ROI Support, they can