Step 1: Know What You’re Up Against 

How Tier-1s attack rural markets: 

• Price-first promotions: Locked-in rates, no contracts, no data caps 

• Bundled deals: Internet + mobile + TV, often with a year of free service 

• Marketing hooks: “Gigabit fiber,” “Future-proof,” “24/7 support,” “No surprise bills” 

Who they target: 

• Heavy streamers, gamers, and work-from-home households 

• Price-sensitive families 

• SMBs looking for reliable internet and phone bundles 

What to monitor: 

• WI PSC or BEAD grant filings 

• Utility pole attachment requests and local permits 

• Charter’s RDOF disclosures or investor roadmaps 

1. Understand the Competitive Threat 

Objective: Identify if a Tier-1 provider (Charter, AT&T, Comcast) is planning to build in your footprint. 
Target Format: Market threat summary with county-level references. 

Prompt: 
"I’m a regional ISP serving 1,000–75,000 subscribers in rural Wisconsin. Which Tier-1 providers are planning fiber or fixed-wireless expansions in my area? Identify the likely threat (Charter, AT&T, Comcast), and summarize where they’re building, what tech they’re using, how it’s funded, and when they plan to go live. Include county/town names when possible. Format as a threat map or regional summary with actionable insights." 

2. Map Their Playbook, So You Can Counter It 

Objective: Break down how Tier-1s approach rural markets: offers, segments, and tactics. 
Target Format: One-page tactical brief. 

Prompt: 
"Act like a broadband analyst. Explain how Tier-1 ISPs (Charter, AT&T, Comcast) typically enter rural markets. What are their go-to pricing models, bundling strategies, and onboarding offers? What language and marketing claims do they lean on? Identify the top 3 customer segments they pursue first and explain why. End with key market timing signals a local ISP should monitor." 

3. Build a Lean Defense Plan 

Objective: Create a scrappy, effective plan to retain customers before the overbuild lands. 
Target Format: Playbook with phases and low-cost actions. 

Prompt: 
"Build a cost-effective customer defense plan for a small ISP facing fiber overbuild from Charter. The plan should prioritize fast execution and modest budget. Break into phases (0–60 days, 60–120 days, etc.), and cover marketing, support, pricing, and partnerships. Include example messages, offer ideas, and key moves a local provider can make to retain subscribers before and during the Tier-1 build." 

4. Turn the Plan into a Toolkit Others Can Use 

Objective: Package your strategy as a reusable guide for other ISPs. 
Target Format: Shareable toolkit + prompt list. 

Prompt: 
"Convert the rural ISP defense plan into a Word document with clear section headers, checklists, and plain language. Include a section that documents all the prompts used to generate the plan—so other ISPs can remix or re-run them for their own markets. Organize it like a field guide for ISPs who want to protect market share from Tier-1 encroachment." 

Optional Bonus Prompt: 

“Run It Like a War Room” 

Objective: Build a 5-day sprint plan to activate defenses fast. 
Prompt: 
"I have a team of 3 and we need to protect a rural market from Charter’s upcoming fiber build. Design a 5-day internal sprint to launch our first line of defense across marketing, support, and pricing. Each day should include 1–2 achievable tasks that move the plan forward quickly. Keep it lean. Assume limited budget and local reach only."