Text Box: Abstract Business plans for rural broadband networks need to be sufficiently comprehensive to address all significant feasibility and budget considerations, yet also scale to the size, complexity and risk of the project. This article describes a solid framework for such a plan in non-technical terms. The central purpose of any business plan is to identify an opportunity and demonstrate its potential viability. Above all, by requiring that planners systematically address early-stage feasibility issues specific to rural areas, sound business plans for these projects will provide a solid basis for securing financing and moving forward expeditously. Along with community members, the audience for this document will consist of outside interests, including potential funding sources, prospective vendors and perhaps other collaborating communities. The nine sections described herein for such a plan are: Community Profile, Stakeholder Analysis, Requirements Analysis, Business Model Analysis, Financial Model, Marketing and Communications Plan, Political and Regulatory Analysis, Best Practice Analysis, and Technical Analysis. This article outlines each of these sections in turn and provides tips on developing them to produce a sound and persuasive plan.

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