Loudoun County, which is located in northern Virginia, has created what may be a first--the county now has a paid position called Manager of Broadband Services. Funded from telecom use fees paid to the county, the new employee, Scott Bashore, will have the responsibility to advise the county on broadband strategies, set a vision for the county on the future use of technology, and will work closely with businesses to ensure the county has the right broadband infrastructure in place to support economic development.
This may be the first person with this kind of job, but it won't be the last. Too many community broadband efforts have been led by informal coalitions without much support from local government, and while some great work has been done, it's hard work without institutionalized support from local government.
Here is the reality: like it or not, communities need to fund and support a digital transport system just like they fund roads, and for the same reasons--it helps create jobs and enhances economic development. And that means local government has to get involved and stay involved. Loudoun County is to be commended for what they have done.