A Partnership Model for Municipal Internet Providers: Increasing Broadband Adoption in Manufactured Housing Communities

Introduction

Municipal broadband networks are expanding rapidly to improve connectivity, digital equity, and local economic resilience. Yet many municipal internet providers face a persistent challenge: low subscriber adoption in manufactured housing communities (MHCs) even when fiber or high-capacity infrastructure already passes these areas.

The issue is not simply network availability. It is a combination of property coordination, last-mile deployment complexity, and resident engagement barriers. Traditional residential sales and installation models are poorly suited to the physical layouts, ownership structures, and customer dynamics of land-lease communities.

This paper outlines a partnership model in which a specialized last-mile operator works alongside a municipal network to convert “passed” MHC homes into high-adoption broadband environments. By combining multi-technology deployment strategies, property-level coordination, and high-touch customer activation, municipal providers can dramatically increase take rates while reducing operational strain and political risk.

The Adoption Gap in Manufactured Housing Communities

Municipal networks often report that MHCs show:

• Lower-than-expected take rates

• Higher install complexity and cost per home

• Slower property owner cooperation

• Greater customer support needs

• Continued reliance on wireless hotspots or legacy providers

Despite being key digital equity targets, MHCs do not behave like traditional single-family neighborhoods. Several factors contribute:

1. Property Structure Differences

Homes are resident-owned, but land and infrastructure access are controlled by a community owner. This creates a split decision-making environment that slows deployment and marketing.

2. Nonstandard Infrastructure Conditions

Communities often include:

• Mixed aerial and buried plant

• Limited conduit or aging utilities

• Tight home spacing

• Installation constraints related to home skirting and layout

Standard fiber drop models may be technically possible but economically inefficient without adaptation.

3. Trust and Switching Barriers

Residents may:

• Be price-sensitive

• Fear service interruptions

• Lack awareness of new options

A network being “available” does not automatically translate into subscriptions.

4. Municipal Operational Constraints

Cities and utilities are typically not structured to:

• Conduct door-to-door activation

• Negotiate individual community access agreements

• Manage high-touch in-home Wi-Fi education

• Customize deployment methods per property

As a result, communities are passed by infrastructure but underperform in subscriber conversion.

A New Model: The MHC Adoption Partner

To address this gap, municipal networks can partner with a specialized operator focused on MHC environments. This partner functions as an adoption and last-mile integration layer between the city network and the community.

Benefits include:

Property-Level Coordination

• Negotiating access and deployment agreements

• Designing standardized pathways for drops and equipment

• Aligning installation logistics with property management

• Marketing of service within the parks

This removes a major administrative burden from municipal teams.

Multi-Technology Deployment Strategy

Rather than relying on a single delivery method, the partner can select the most efficient solution per environment, including:

• Fiber drops where cost-effective

• Fixed wireless overlays for hard-to-reach homes

• Wireless bridging from fiber-fed nodes

• Hybrid approaches for temporary or high-churn residences

This flexibility reduces per-home connection cost and speeds activation.

Community-Scale Activation

Instead of individual address marketing, the partner runs coordinated adoption campaigns:

• On-site enrollment events

• Door-to-door engagement

• Community-specific materials

• Referral programs within the park

• Property office endorsements

• Very specific marketing materials are tailored for micro-geographies.

This approach accelerates take rates from long-term gradual growth to concentrated adoption within months.

Customer Experience Ownership

Many support calls stem from in-home issues rather than network performance. A specialized partner can provide:

• Installers experienced with mobile home environments

• Whole-home Wi-Fi setup

• Device connection assistance

• Clear billing education

• Localized or language-specific support where needed

This improves customer satisfaction while reducing strain on municipal call centers.

Partnership Structures

Municipal providers can implement this model in several ways:

Wholesale Access Model

The municipal network provides backbone and bandwidth at a wholesale rate. The partner manages last-mile connectivity within the community, customer onboarding, and support.

Revenue Share Model

The municipal network remains the retail provider of record, while the partner handles community acquisition, installations, and local engagement in exchange for a revenue share.

Managed Community Program

The partner operates as a dedicated MHC division under co-branded or white-label arrangements, giving municipalities a specialized channel without building internal capacity.

Each model allows the city to grow adoption while maintaining public ownership of core infrastructure.

Benefits to Municipal Networks

Higher Take Rates
Coordinated activation and property-level agreements can significantly increase subscriber penetration in previously underperforming areas.

Improved ROI on Existing Infrastructure
Communities already passed by fiber represent sunk capital. Increased adoption directly improves financial sustainability.

Support for Digital Equity Goals
MHCs often house lower-income or underserved residents. Higher adoption advances inclusion objectives without requiring new builds.

Reduced Operational Burden
The partner absorbs much of the complexity around installations, property coordination, and high-touch support.

Lower Political Risk
Better customer experiences mean fewer complaints to city leadership and stronger public perception of the network.

Conclusion

Manufactured housing communities represent one of the most important — and most misunderstood — segments in municipal broadband deployment. The primary barrier to adoption is not infrastructure availability, but the mismatch between traditional ISP models and the realities of land-lease communities.

By partnering with a specialized MHC adoption operator, municipal internet providers can transform these communities from low-performing service areas into high-engagement, high-impact broadband environments. This model converts passed homes into paying subscribers, advances digital equity, and maximizes the public return on public network investment.

Keeping Our Manufactured Housing Communities Safe

What’s Happening Right Now?

At the beginning of the year, Minnesota co-speaker of the House, Lisa Demuth, coordinated with a YouTube influencer to fly to Minnesota and cause chaos about our childcare system so that they could wipe childcare and other funding from thousands of families and send thousands of troops to Minnesota – attempting to use fraud as a justification. While there have been problems with fraud in Minnesota that have been and are actively being prosecuted and addressed, things have blown out of proportion and are being used as a political tool to wreak havoc on our state.

‍Things have escalated to striking levels, and hundreds of people are being arrested, detained, beaten, and in some cases killed regardless of their immigration status or criminal background. These federal ICE agents are no longer cooperating with our state and local law enforcement to investigate wrongdoings and our neighborhood streets have become unsafe for thousands of Minnesotans. In some communities, they have set up check points demanding people hand over their passports purely based on the color of their skin and in others they are going door to door asking people to identify any person with brown skin that lives in their neighborhood.

‍Because part of what makes Minnesota’s manufactured home communities great is the wide range of backgrounds of the people who live there, manufactured home communities have become a target for ICE raids in the past week.

‍This is not a political problem. This is a human problem. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their homes. It doesn’t matter who we voted for or if we voted at all. This is decades of work to protect the wealthiest among us, while the rest of us are distracted by chaos and cruelty. Now is the time to say “enough is enough.”

‍We cannot effectively organize at the scale we need to for lot rent caps and other rights while our neighbors are afraid to leave their homes, while people are being taken, their homes being left behind, and park owners likely ready to hike lot rent for the now vacant lots, or while armed guards are going door to door demanding information on our neighbors. As is true in all our other organizing, no one person is coming to save or protect us - we do that for each other.

‍So What Can We Do?

‍None of this is written in the stars or set in stone. Just like organizing for the Bill of Rights, we can build enough people power to push back when we think something is wrong. Oftentimes, we just need to know what is the most impactful use of our time and energy or to get over the feeling that maybe we can’t do anything because we’re just one person. I’m here to tell you, we can do a lot. A lot of people are doing a lot right now. Here are some concrete actions residents, resident associations, and park organizing teams can take together:‍ ‍‍

1. Demand your park owners become a “4th Amendment” business to prohibit ICE from entering their private property without a judicial warrant.

2. Pass out know your rights information to all neighbors

3. Patrol your neighborhood

4. Join or create a rapid response group in your neighborhood - you can include grocery/medication delivery to neighbors staying in their homes

5. Build alliances with nearby fourth amendment businesses, churches, and local law enforcement (if they have positive relationships with the community)

6. BONUS: If they aren’t a fourth amendment business already, encourage them to become one

‍Just like anything else, these things are most safe and effective when you do them in pairs or in a group of any size.

1) Demand Your Park Become a Fourth Amendment Business

‍The Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. Any business who owns their property and is considered private property can prohibit government officials from entering their private property without a judicial search warrant (which are very hard to get). All of Minnesota’s manufactured home communities with the exception of Landfall (owned by the city) are private property. Our park owners can and should be posting signs, like many other businesses, declaring themselves a fourth amendment business and that ICE is not allowed to enter the community without a judicial warrant.

‍There are several steps to take to demand your park owners do this:

‍1)    Write your park owners and park manager a letter laying out your demand, your timeline, and what they need to do to become a fourth amendment business (including the conditions for posting a sign at all entrances that is legible to ICE agents and alerting on site management)

‍2)    Follow up on that letter if they don’t comply with your demand

3)    Contact your state and local elected officials to ask them to help you put pressure on your park owner to comply

‍Document:Letter Template to Draft Your Letter to Owners and Management

2) Share Know Your Rights Information with Your Neighbors

It’s helpful for your neighbors to get “Know Your Rights” information so they know what they can and can’t do in the event that a masked, armed agent knocks on their door. You could consider going door to door and handing out this flyer, emailing it to any resident association lists, or posting on your park’s Facebook page.

‍Document: Know Your Rights Document from Immigrant Law Center

3) Join or Create a Rapid Response Signal Group in Your Neighborhood ‍

Many neighborhoods are already organizing community rapid response groups on Signal and coordinating when they see ICE activity. There are often people who are already out on patrol and can be a presence in your neighborhood if you report any ICE activity or a need for bystanders.

‍Signal is an encrypted messaging app that you can download on your phone or computer. Here is a link to the verified site to download Signal.

To find and join your neighborhood Signal group, download Signal and then click on this link to the “Rapid Response Sorting Hat Chat” and read the description to find your neighborhood chat. You can also create a group just for your park if you don’t have one already. Keep in mind that Signal is the safest place to communicate, but expect that anything you put in a chat could be seen by someone you may not want seeing it. Protect your identity and the things you share as much as possible.

‍You might consider joining a rapid response training in your area to get more information about how to become a formal constitutional observer for your community and best participate in your rapid response group.

Look for Rapid Response Trainings in Your Area:

●      Monarca: https://monarcamn.org/training

●      Immigrant Defense Network: https://immigrantdefensenetwork.org/#events-trainings

‍Many people are afraid to leave their homes for fear of being targeted by agents. Community members have set up grocery, meal and other essential item deliveries (like medications). A rapid response chat with a form for people to submit if they are willing to deliver vs. if they are in need of delivery might be a good idea for your neighborhood if your neighborhood rapid response doesn’t have it set up already.

4) Patrol/Monitor Your Neighborhood

This is usually best after you have joined a rapid response group or have gone to a training, but patrolling can be done so long as you have the hotline numbers to call and understand what to do if you see suspicious activity.

Patrolling usually means travelling the same section of your neighborhood in your car, on foot, or in another motorized vehicle looking for ICE activity to report. Sometimes you may see activity that looks suspicious, but you’re not sure if it’s ICE. You can report license plate numbers to your community Signal rapid response group as they usually have people identifying and confirming plates.

When you see ICE activity, there are several things you should do:

1)    One person should be responsible for reporting the activity to a hotline and another to your neighborhood rapid response group if you are in one

2)    Alert your neighbors by blowing your whistles or sounding some kind of agreed upon alarm (if you don’t have a whistle, please reach out to Lilly to get one)‍ ‍

3)    Everyone who is present and has a device on them should record the whole interaction with ICE, whether you are interacting with them directly or they are interacting with any of your neighbors

Hotlines for reporting ICE activity - if one line is busy, try another: 

●       Immigrant Defense Network: 612-255-3112

●       Monarca Rapid Response Line: 612-441-2881

‍●       Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee: miracmn@gmail.com

Report all activity using the SALUTE method:

‍S = Size: how many agents/officers?

A = Activity: what specifically are they doing?

L = Location: give an exact address or intersection‍ ‍

U = Uniform: what are they wearing? what letters, details, or patches are visible on the uniforms or vehicles?‍ ‍

T = Time: what precise time did you witness the activity? (report as quickly as you can)‍ ‍

E = Equipment: what did the agents have with them?

Some other things you may consider that serve similar purposes to patrolling:

●      Asking people who live at the entrances of your park to install or pay attention to their security cameras to alert the neighborhood when ICE may be in the park‍ ‍

●      Have a group on food distribution days or other community events stationed to monitor any ICE activity‍ ‍

●      Have a group regularly posted up by the office to alert folks of any ICE vehicles in the neighborhood - reports from residents said they have seen them stop by the office before entering‍ ‍

5) Build Alliances with Nearby Fourth Amendment Businesses, Churches, and Local Law Enforcement (If They Have Positive Relationships with the Community)‍ ‍

There are many other places in our communities that are concerned about what we’re seeing right now and are looking for ways to support the community. Here are some questions you can ask local businesses, churches, or law enforcement to see if they have some extra capacity to help patrol your neighborhood, or if you have some additional capacity, you could offer your time to them:‍‍ ‍

●      Is your institution monitoring ICE activity in our city? What does that look like for you?‍ ‍

●      Are you connected to any rapid response groups in our neighborhood?‍ ‍

●      Do you have any additional capacity to help patrol our neighborhood and keep an eye out for ICE activity?‍‍ ‍

6) BONUS: If A Local Business Or Corporation Is Not A Fourth Amendment Business Already, Encourage Them To Become One‍ ‍

This is a similar process to asking your park owners. No business is too large to make this ask of. There are some large corporations we have more sway over because they are headquartered in Minnesota and care about their public reputation. A local branch of a McDonalds in Minneapolis made the decision not to let ICE enter their store and now have a sign posted out front, and local businesses across the state have been doing the same.‍ ‍

There is a big effort to demand Target become a Fourth Amendment business, and people all across the state are showing up at their local Targets to ask them to post signs on their doors barring ICE from entering. As of right now, they have still been silent, even after two US Citizens were tackled and detained at their Richfield location just days ago. Walmart, Home Depot and other large box companies have either cooperated with ICE or have been silent when they’ve used their parking lots or stores to stage raids. This has prevented many people from being able to travel to stores for necessities and allows them greater access to any neighborhoods nearby. It makes a difference if our local businesses stand with us or not.‍‍ ‍

Use this toolkit as a guide to ask your local Target or other businesses to become Fourth Amendment Businesses.‍‍ ‍

If you have any questions about any of these resources or how to connect with a team in your neighborhood, please contact lsasse@isaiahmn.org‍

Digital Equity Improves People’s Livelihoods

REVinternet knows access to the internet is no longer a luxury—it’s no a utility and lifeline. From applying for jobs to managing finances, accessing healthcare, and pursuing education, digital tools shape nearly every aspect of modern life. Yet millions of people still lack reliable internet access, appropriate devices, or the skills needed to navigate the digital landscape with confidence. This gap, known as the digital divide, doesn’t just limit convenience—it limits opportunity.

That’s why digital equity matters. When we ensure that everyone, regardless of income, geography, age, or background, can participate fully in the digital world, we unlock improvements in livelihoods that ripple through entire communities.

1. Digital Equity Opens Doors to Better Education

Education has transformed dramatically with the rise of digital learning. Students access virtual classrooms, online research materials, interactive tools, and tutoring platforms. Adults rely on e-learning programs for upskilling and career transitions.

But without adequate devices or broadband access, people fall behind academically and professionally. Fostering digital equity ensures:

• Students can complete assignments and participate in blended learning

• Adults can reskill for emerging industries

• Lifelong learning becomes a reality, not a privilege

The result? More qualified workers, higher earning potential, and stronger local economies.

2. It Expands Access to Employment and Economic Opportunity

Today’s job market is digital-first. Applications, interviews, and skill-building all happen online. Small businesses rely on digital tools to reach customers and manage operations.

Digital equity provides individuals with:

• Access to online job portals

• Training in essential digital competencies

• Tools to start home-based or remote businesses

When people have the ability to participate in the digital economy, they gain more stable income, flexibility, and agency over their livelihoods.

3. It Improves Access to Healthcare and Essential Services

Telehealth, online patient portals, and digital pharmacy services have become critical—especially for rural communities or individuals with limited mobility.

Digital equity helps ensure people can:

• Access telemedicine appointments

• Refill prescriptions online

• Receive timely information during emergencies

Beyond healthcare, essential services—from social benefits to financial assistance—are increasingly digital. When people are connected, they can access the support they need, when they need it.

4. It Strengthens Community Participation and Civic Engagement

At our core, REVinternet wants to foster commuity engagement in the areas we serve. By fostering digital equity, communities ensure that:

• Residents stay informed

• More voices contribute to public decision-making

• Civic participation becomes more inclusive

When people are connected, democracy becomes stronger and more representative.

5. It Encourages Social Connection and Reduces Isolation

Digital tools allow people to maintain relationships across distances, join community groups, and find support networks. For seniors, income contrained, immigrants, and people with disabilities, digital access is a lifeline to social inclusion.

Improving digital equity helps combat loneliness and promotes mental well-being—both of which are core components of a thriving life.

Digital Equity Isn’t Just About Technology—It’s About Opportunity

Fostering digital equity means investing in:

• Affordable and reliable broadband

• Accessible devices

• Digital literacy training

• Inclusive design that meets the needs of all users

When we commit to leveling the digital playing field, we empower individuals to learn, work, connect, and thrive. The benefits extend far beyond the screen—they uplift entire communities, drive economic growth, and pave the way for a fairer, more resilient society.

Why Big Internet Providers Don’t Care About Digital Equity — and Why That’s an Opportunity

When it comes to internet access, not all communities are treated equally. While large internet service providers (ISPs) advertise nationwide coverage and cutting-edge speeds, the reality is that millions of Americans remain underserved. Manufactured housing communities, rural towns, and lower-income neighborhoods often find themselves at the bottom of the priority list.

The reason? Big ISPs are not in the business of digital equity.

Profit Over People

For large providers, the business model is simple:

• Focus on high-density urban areas where infrastructure investments pay off quickly.

• Prioritize wealthier communities that can afford bundled TV, phone, and high-speed internet packages.

• Invest in upgrades where shareholder returns are highest, not where the digital divide is widest.

That leaves underserved communities — the very places that need affordable, reliable internet the most — on the outside looking in. For a Fortune 500 ISP, building fiber to a mobile home park or a small rural town is often written off as unprofitable.

The Cost of Inequity

Lack of access isn’t just an inconvenience. It limits:

• Education: Students without broadband can’t keep up with online assignments.

• Healthcare: Telehealth is out of reach for many seniors and low-income families.

• Work: Remote job opportunities bypass communities without reliable connections.

Digital equity isn’t a luxury. It’s the foundation for participating in the modern economy.

The Opportunity for Smaller Providers

Here’s where smaller ISPs, local co-ops, and forward-thinking operators have an opening. By focusing on communities ignored by the big players, these providers can:

• Build loyal customer bases that value reliability and fair pricing.

• Partner with property owners and municipalities to create scalable, sustainable broadband solutions.

• Access government funding programs designed to support digital inclusion initiatives.

In fact, digital equity can be a smart business strategy. Communities that finally get access to high-quality internet don’t just sign up — they stay. They recommend the service. They see the provider as part of the neighborhood, not just a logo on a bill.

A Different Kind of Internet Future

The digital divide won’t close itself. Large providers have shown that they will continue to follow the money, not the mission. That leaves the door wide open for smaller, more agile ISPs to step in and make digital equity both a priority and a profitable opportunity.

In other words: what the giants see as “too small to bother with” could be the most valuable growth market of all.

Why Manufactured Housing Communities Deserve Better Internet

Why the Gap Exists

Outdated Infrastructure
Many communities were built long before internet access was a necessity. As a result, they often rely on outdated copper phone lines or coaxial systems that were never designed to handle today’s digital demands.

Low Priority from Major ISPs
Large internet providers tend to focus their resources on dense urban neighborhoods or newly built subdivisions. Even though manufactured housing communities can house hundreds of residents, they’re often overlooked because providers assume residents will “make do” with slower options.

Why It Matters

Poor internet access isn’t just an inconvenience. It can limit residents’ ability to work remotely, attend online classes, use telehealth services, or even enjoy simple entertainment like streaming. In today’s world, broadband is just as essential as any other utility.

The Opportunity

For MHC Onwers, this challenge is also a chance to add real value. By partnering with specialized ISPs or investing in bulk internet service, manufactured housing communities can:

• Increase property value and resident satisfaction

• Offer competitive amenities that rival traditional neighborhoods

• Create new revenue opportunities through bulk service models

• Help close the digital divide for families who need affordable, reliable access

Final Thought

High-speed internet is no longer optional—it’s a must-have. MHCs that recognize this and take proactive steps will set themselves apart, attract new residents, and build long-term loyalty.

Why Providing Bulk Internet Service is Smart Business for Park Owners

When operating a manufactured community, profitability comes down to two key drivers: resident retention and property value growth. While amenities like pools or playgrounds can help, today’s most in-demand utility is high-speed internet. For park owners, offering bulk internet service isn’t just an amenity—it’s a business strategy with measurable returns.

1. Increase Property Value and Market Competitiveness

Parks with built-in, reliable broadband command higher rents and greater market appeal. Prospective residents increasingly ask about internet quality before they ask about floorplans. Communities that can advertise “broadband internet included” gain a competitive edge against nearby parks that leave residents to negotiate with big-box carriers.

Think of it this way: bulk internet is the 21st-century equivalent of offering central air—it shifts your property from “basic” to “premium.”

2. Generate a Steady Revenue Stream

With bulk service, park owners negotiate wholesale rates directly with an internet provider. By bundling internet into lot rent or community fees, owners can mark up modestly while still providing residents better pricing than they’d get on their own.

For example, if you purchase service at $25 per door and charge $40, across 200 lots you’ve just created an additional $3,000 in predictable monthly revenue—without adding a single unit.

Sample ROI Breakdown (200-Space Community)

• Wholesale rate (ISP contract): $25 per unit/month

• Resident charge (bundled into rent): $40 per unit/month

• Gross margin per unit: $15/month

Monthly Net Revenue:
200 units × $15 = $3,000

Annual Net Revenue:
$3,000 × 12 = $36,000

3. Reduce Resident Turnover

Turnover is expensive. Every vacant lot means lost lot fees. Residents who enjoy fast, hassle-free internet are less likely to leave. When internet is embedded into the value of living in your park, it becomes a “sticky” amenity—something that keeps residents rooted long-term.

4. Control Quality and Service Delivery

National carriers often overlook or underserve MHCs. By structuring a bulk agreement, park owners gain leverage: you decide the service levels, negotiate upgrades, and ensure residents aren’t left with poor coverage. This level of control translates into fewer complaints and stronger community satisfaction.

5. Streamline Operations

Instead of residents setting up dozens of individual accounts, bulk service means one contract, one bill, one relationship. Residents appreciate the simplicity of “move in and log on,” while owners reduce administrative headaches.

6. Position for Long-Term Growth

Broadband isn’t just about entertainment. Remote work, online education, streaming, and telehealth are becoming everyday necessities. Communities without reliable internet will fall behind, while those with bulk service will attract a broader resident base and future-proof their investment.

7. This model works for resident owned communities as well

ROCs can leverage their collective buying power to negotiate park wide service that is considerably less on a member by member basis. Each member saves a great deal on retail rates for internet service by using the parkwide bulk service instead of buying alone.

Final Thought

Bulk internet is not an expense—it’s an asset. It strengthens revenue, reduces vacancy costs, enhances property value, and differentiates your park in a competitive market. For forward-looking park owners, bulk internet service is one of the smartest infrastructure decisions you can make today..