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Case Study: Broadband & The Digital Divide: The New Role of Public Libraries

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

In Northeast Ohio, the Cuyahoga County Public Library System (CCPL) has established a new beachhead for bridging the digital divide. After five years of experimenting with ultra-broadband and integrating it into the library’s menu of services, CCPL is now known across the country as a pace-setting library system and an early innovator in ultra- broadband applications for servicing the public.

For communities all over the country, the public library – often the only agency offering free access to Internet-based services – is playing an increasingly relevant role in helping to bridge the digital divide. The opportunities for impact are profound, however the challenges are numerous: Access to funding and bandwidth are critical ingredients for responding to rising public need and demand, and the ability to effectively track impact remains elusive. Yet for populations across the country, having digital access, or not, may also mean: Acquiring new skills or not. Learning English or not. Applying for a job … or not. In these times of national economic stress, the role of public libraries in the digital-divide equation may be more critical than ever.

CCPL’s experiences provide lessons for pursuing a broadband vision that can impact the digital divide in communities around the country. In the wake of CCPL’s advances in Northeast Ohio, a new threshold of innovation has dawned, and for public libraries nationwide, so has the opportunity to serve as beacons of hope to the millions of Americans in danger of being left behind in the digital divide.

For a thorough analysis of CCPL’s experience, download “Broadband & The Digital Divide: The New Role of Public Libraries,” a case study supported by the Knight Foundation.

Appendices:

Appendices A to C
Appendix D
Appendix E
Appendix F
Appendix G
Appendices H to I

Tags: broadband, Broadband Expansion, CCPL, community, Cuyahoga County Public Library, digital, digital divide, economy, education, infrastructure, innovation, Internet, Knight, library, network, Northeast Ohio
Posted in Cleveland Experience series, Digital news, broadband | No Comments »

Is broadband access a civic requirement?

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

A crucial part of President Barack Obama’s transparency agenda has always been to increase public participation in government by bringing it online. In fact, you may have heard him or a member of his administration discussing e-government as a key element of a national broadband plan.

These statements are not just rhetoric – using broadband to increase civic participation in policymaking efforts is the law. No, you didn’t just misread that sentence – there’s a law stating what a national broadband plan must include, and e-government is stamped right on it.

Now that we know the law, let’s take a closer look at what drives successful e-government initiatives – information. After all, information has allowed civilians to participate in local and national government since there’s been a government.

“Informing Communities: Sustaining democracy in the Digital Age,” a report by The Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy, provides an outstanding perspective on how “information is as vital to the healthy functioning of communities as clean air, safe streets, good schools and public health.”

According to the report, “America needs ‘informed communities,’ places where the information ecology meets people’s personal and civic information needs. This means people have the news and information they need to take advantage of life’s opportunities for themselves and their families. They need information to participate fully in our system of self-government, to stand up and be heard. Driving this vision are the critical democratic values of openness, inclusion, participation, empowerment and the common pursuit of truth and the public interest.”

Are you an informed community?

According to the report, a community is a healthy democratic community – an “informed community” – when:

• People have convenient access to both civic and life-enhancing information, without regard to income or social status.

• Journalism is abundant in many forms and accessible through many convenient platforms.

• Government is open and transparent.

• People have affordable high-speed Internet service wherever and whenever they want and need it.

• Digital and media literacy are widely taught in schools, public libraries and other community centers.

• Technological and civic expertise is shared across the generations.

• Local media – including print, broadcast, and online media – reflect the issues, events, experiences and ideas of the entire community.

• People have a deep understanding of the role of free speech and free press rights in maintaining a democratic community.

• Citizens are active in acquiring and sharing knowledge both within and across social networks.

• People can assess and track changes in the information health of their communities.

The commission also states that to achieve its vision of informed communities, the following three fundamental objectives must be pursued:

Maximizing the availability of relevant and credible information to communities

The availability of relevant and credible information implies creation, distribution and preservation. Information flow improves when people have not only direct access to information, but the benefit also of credible intermediaries to help discover, gather, compare, contextualize and share information.

Strengthening the capacity of individuals to engage with information

This includes the ability to communicate one’s information, creations and views to others. Attending to capacity means that people have access to the tools they need and opportunities to develop their skills to use those tools effectively as both producers and consumers of information.

Promoting individual engagement with information and the public life of the community

Promoting engagement means generating opportunities and motivation for involvement. Citizens should have the capacity, both individually and in groups, to help shoulder responsibility for community self-governance.

A large part of the report also focuses on the importance broadband technology and new media in revitalizing traditional journalistic roles and values. Since the advent of the 24-hour news cycle and the subsequent rise of sometimes superfluous content, many have forgotten the media was initially created to serve as a “watchdog of the government” – to provide civilians with accurate information on what their elected public officials were doing and to take those officials to task when they overstepped their bounds.

Traditional, accurate journalism efforts on civic affairs have always played a crucial role in providing individuals with the necessary information to participate in government. That service can only be enhanced as consistent innovation creates new information channels. The challenge for media outlets is to revamp their old business models to better incorporate new broadband technologies while staying true to their original “watchdog” role.

However, it’s extremely difficult to predict what kinds of innovation will occur in any industry, yet alone communications. But given what we have today, it’s imperative for public bodies to invest in the creation of universal broadband access for all Americans. Enabling citizens to participate in civic affairs through the accessibility of a national broadband infrastructure is a proper role for government.

Tags: 24-hour news cycle, Barack Obama, broadband, Broadband Expansion, community, digital, e-government, education, government transparency, high-speed, information, information channel, informed communities, innovation, Internet, journalism, Knight, Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy, network, new media
Posted in Opinion, broadband, national broadband plan | No Comments »

Solid research is key to a successful broadband initiative

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

When we read about a groundbreaking surgical procedure, we picture the surgeon using the scapel, not the hundreds of tests and years of clinical study that guided his incisions. When we watch an exciting football game, we see the elite quarterback dismantling a defense, not the days he spent watching film with a DVD remote in his hand instead of a ball.

We see the success, not the research that drove it.

However, at the Knight Center of Digital Excellence, we view research a little differently than most. Research data has proven itself to be invaluable to our cause of creating connected communities. Solid research serves as the backbone for any successful broadband initiative and ensures we don’t enter a community “blind.”

And it’s not just about collecting as many statistics and facts as possible. Research also includes making determinations on what to research and how to go about it. As the saying goes, there’s a method to the madness. So, how do we go about it? Knight Center Research Analyst Debra Canale took some time to provide detail on a handful of the many valuable tools in our data-gathering arsenal:

Environmental Scans give us a complete overview of a community even before we step into it. They help to answer:

• Who are the major stakeholders and key entities in the community?

• What is the demographic profile of the community?

• What are the economic/labor issues confronting the community?

• What are the major headlines/issues facing the community?

• What is the history of broadband/wi-fi/digital inclusion/technology, etc. initiatives in the community?

• What is the regulatory environment to promote/hinder broadband initiatives?

• What are the “anchor institutions” and key employers of the community?

• Who are the major stakeholders in the community and what kind of projects do they fund? Has the state issued any grants to fund technology/broadband initiatives?

• How does the community stand regarding the three top Knight Center verticals: Education, health care and e-government?

• How does the community stand regarding the six second-tier verticals: Safety and response, economic development, social services, workforce development, journalism and new media, civic engagement and arts and culture?

Broadband Market Profiles help benchmark current broadband coverage for households and institutional users and help identify market gaps and opportunities. They also help to answer:

• What are the broadband options available in a community (number of vendors, speeds, prices, adoption)?

• What are the disparities in broadband availability within the community (based on income, geographic location, etc.)?

• Who are the potential partners, competitors and customers?

Asset Inventories help us determine existing assets within a community that can be leveraged for a broadband infrastructure project by answering:

• What are the existing physical broadband assets within the community?

• What other community assets can be leveraged for a broadband project?

• Are there any regulations/ordinances that impact broadband deployment?

• Has the community received any funding that can be leveraged for a broadband initiative?

According to Canale, the first pass on these reports is based solely on secondary data from open and subscription data bases and other published sources – with phone calls to government offices, schools, libraries and other institutions thrown in for good measure.

Solid research is key to a successful broadband initiative. The first round of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act broadband stimulus program provided numerous opportunities for Knight Communities to pursue platforms for open dialogue, innovation, thought leadership and high-impact access projects. To ensure communities had the best chance to receive stimulus funding, the Knight Center relied on a five-stage research methodology to prove target areas were unserved/underserved as part of the Broadband Initiative Program and Broadband Technology Opportunities Program application directives.

The point: We place serious emphasis on the efforts of Canale and the entire research team. It not only enhances our efforts in the field, but it helps provide communities with an idea on how to ground their broadband projects with data-driven market realities.

Tags: American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009, asset inventories, BIP, broadband, Broadband Initiatives Program, broadband market profile, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, BTOP, civic engagement, Debra Canale, digital inclusion, DVD, e-government, education, environmental scan, healthcare, infrastructure, innovation, Internet, journalism, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, Knight communities, new media, public safety, research, stimulus, utilities, Wi-Fi
Posted in Knight Center of Digital Excellence, broadband | No Comments »

Coalition inspires greater broadband adoption and use through new report

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

report In any national broadband strategy, adoption and use need to play a major role. We’ve seen numerous examples of broadband driving future applications that will enhance lives. Advances in education, health care and economic development are out there, and many Americans are going to need to increase their technological competencies in order to realize the benefits.

While the U.S. Broadband Coalition submitted a report on a national broadband strategy to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Sept. 24, it recently submitted another that offers more detailed policy suggestions.

The Broadband Adoption and Use Working Group, chaired by Charles Benton, of the Benton Foundation; Link Hoewing, of Verizon; Karen Archer Perry, of the Knight Center of Digital Excellence; and Kenneth Peres of Communications Workers of America, collaborated with more than 30 authors representing over 25 different firms to create a new report that was delivered to the FCC Oct. 29 and will be showcased in a public forum at the FCC Hearing Room in Washington D.C. Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. EST.

“Broadband Adoption and Use: Bridging the Divide and Increasing the Intensity of Broadband Use Across All Sectors of the Economy,” is a robust document focusing on policy options that promote: inclusion, increased intensity of broadband use, interoperability, integration of broadband and technology into other programs, and expanded innovation. The report’s hundred plus policy ideas address each of these principles directly.

Inclusion

As more functions in our society move online, the cost of digital exclusion continues to escalate. Conversely, the value associated with any given Internet-enabled service increases as more people or devices access that service. This report includes specific recommendations to bridge the digital divide. Its universal design principles seek to bring access to people with disabilities. The benefits of broadband can potentially reach 40 percent of American adults who currently have inadequate or no access.

Intensity of Broadband Use

While broadband appears to be well integrated in some sectors of our nation’s economy, we’re actually in the beginning stages of broadband adoption as a whole. The potential to further leverage broadband technologies across society and the economy creates unparalleled opportunities to grow our economy and enrich lives.

The report covers a number of policy options designed to increase adoption and use in the areas of economic development, health care, public safety, education, energy and sustainability, and democracy and civic engagement.

Interoperability

While broadband developments to-date are founded on the natural interoperability of Internet Protocol (the method by which data is sent from one computer to another), more application-level interoperability is needed to accelerate development across sectors and constituencies such as in health care and public safety. The report points out where policy and standardization can drive additional deployment and create new, more effective use models.

Integration of Broadband into Everything

Broadband technology and Internet-based applications can no longer be managed and funded in “technology silos” of policy and investment. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is integral to social services, education, health care, safety, civic rights and engagement, and all other sectors of the economy. The report recommends ICT investment and policy be incorporated into other federal and state programs such as housing, social services, education, and health care as integral funded and mission-aligned program components.

Investment

Strategic investments such as those made through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act’s broadband stimulus funding, Universal Service Funds and USDA Rural Health programs are critical to filling gaps in the market in terms of access, adoption and applications.

Innovation

The hallmark of the Internet age has been innovation. While change is necessary to broaden and deepen the impact of broadband across the U.S., changes must also preserve and encourage continued innovation at all levels of the economy and market. A number of recent studies have shown the Internet is the new platform for innovation not only in the U.S. but globally. Consider the number of new applications and devices over the past few years.

Could any of us have accurately predicted this exact kind of innovation would take place? Can we accurately predict the future possibilities that exist? Probably not.

But as the Coalition suggests, we can encourage policies that will “focus not on protecting status quo but in continuing to create a fertile environment for U.S.-based innovation, expansion as well as adoption and use.”

Over 30 industry experts from 25 firms contributed to “Broadband Adoption and Use: Bridging the Divide and Increasing the Intensity of Broadband Use Across All Sectors of the Economy,” In addition to the report co-chairs, Alcatel-Lucent, Net Literacy, Telcordia, Utilities Telecom Council, PC Rebuilders and Recyclers, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, OneCommunity and many others contributed to this report.

Each report section includes a statement on the opportunity, barriers and possible policy options to be implemented at the federal, state or local levels of government. While the report reflects a few areas of contention, there is strong overall agreement that increasing the adoption and use of broadband technology and services is good for America and for Americans.

With the Internet celebrating only its 40th birthday and search functions just over 10 years old, this is still a field in the early stages of growth and value. There is much we can do to create greater inclusion in adoption and to drive for greater value across those sectors where broadband is already in use and this report includes a menu of serious options for consideration.

Future events

The “Broadband Adoption and Use: Bridging the Divide and Increasing the Intensity of Broadband Use Across All Sectors of the Economy” report will be publicly released Nov. 13 and will be showcased in live and webcast events at the FCC Headquarters on the same day at 1 p.m. EST. Please check the Knight Center website for more details, go to www.BB4US.net or contact Karen Archer Perry at kperry@knightcenter.org.

Tags: Alcatel-Lucent, American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009, bandwidth, benton foundation, broadband, Broadband Adoption and Use, Broadband Adoption and Use Working Group, Broadband Expansion, Charles Benton, Communications Workers of America, digital, digital divide, economy, education, FCC, Federal Communications Commission, healthcare, ICT, Information and Communications Technology, infrastructure, innovation, Internet, Interoperability, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Karen Archer Perry, Kenneth Peres, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, Link Hoewing, national broadband plan, Net Literacy, network, OneCommunity, PC Rebuilders and Recyclers, public safety, rural communities, stimulus, Telcordia, telemedicine, U.S. Broadband Coalition, underserved, Universal Service Funds, USDA Rural Health, utilities, Utilities Telecom Council, Verizon, Washington D.C.
Posted in Digital news, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, broadband, national broadband plan | No Comments »

Seen and unseen possibilities: Broadband means economic growth

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

By Doug Adams, Knight Center of Digital Excellence

Our nation’s broadband economic stimulus plan – part of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act – is placing a bet that our economy will improve with the expansion of high-speed Internet.

Of course, there are the jobs created just through basic construction, such as the building of broadband networks including fiber and towers. This is no different from jobs created through construction of a building. But if a region builds an office building with no use – with hardly any potential tenants – the economic impact will be short-lived and limited to the building project itself.

So what will we do with all of this broadband once we have it? The promise of broadband is much more significant than opportunities a new office park might provide. Faster and more pervasive Internet service provides a platform for innovation, research and development for all citizens – bringing with it new products, services and most importantly, revenue streams.

What kinds of products and services? Well without broadband, there would have been no impetus for the iPod, Kindle and digital cameras – and no explosive growth in the electronics market. Without broadband, there would be no way to communicate with your doctor over Internet-enabled video conferencing, potentially leaving health care costs to skyrocket even more than they already have. And without broadband, there would be no way to watch your favorite shows from anywhere on your laptop or smart phone – and along with that, there would be no growth in online advertising revenues.

To understand the economic benefit of massive broadband expansion, you need to appreciate the benefits known and unknown, seen and unseen. Early in the decade, as broadband became more common, there was no way to predict the economic impact each development would have. We wanted faster access to Web pages. The iPod and Kindle weren’t even ideas yet.

Beyond platitudes or the hypothetical, what proof do we have that broadband actually has a significant impact on our economy?

In a 2006 study funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Carnegie Mellon University concluded that broadband access “does enhance economic growth and performance, and that the assumed economic impacts are real and measurable.” Looking at a cross-section of communities across the nation, the study found that between 1998 and 2002, communities that had mass-market broadband experienced more rapid growth in employment and in the number of businesses, especially in technology-intensive sectors, compared to communities without broadband.

Another study titled, “Broadband and Economic Development: A Municipal Case Study from Florida,” by the consulting firm Applied Economic Studies, found that as a result of municipal investment in broadband networks in the early half of this decade, Lake County, Fla., experienced roughly 100 percent greater growth in economic activity than other comparable counties in Florida by a combination of indicators.

And finally, earlier this summer a report from the World Bank Group found developing countries saw an increase in economic growth of 1.3 percentage points for every 10 percentage-point increase in broadband.

Beyond the economic benefits derived from building a platform for innovation, broadband impacts productivity – making us more effective, freeing up our creative energies and allowing us to focus on the next big idea. Broadband shrinks our world and enables telecommuting for collaborative projects across the country or across the globe, making tomorrow’s iPod or Kindle a reality faster – and with it, infusing capital into our markets.

So unlike the construction of an empty building, one we hope to fill with tenants, the investment in broadband construction is sure to fill our nation with hope and change, in the form of innovation and opportunities, as we were promised last November.

Also read “It’s ‘patent-ly’ obvious: U.S. needs better broadband.”

Doug Adams oversees public information efforts for the Knight Center of Digital Excellence based in Akron, Ohio. The center is operated by Cleveland-based technology nonprofit OneCommunity, in partnership with The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and is dedicated to creating connected communities through strategies that utilize information technologies to drive civic progress and economic development. To learn more about the Knight Center, go to www.knightcenter.org or e-mail info@knightcenter.org.

Tags: American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009, broadband, Broadband Expansion, Carnegie Mellon University, community, digital, digital camera, Doug Adams, economy, education, Florida, high-speed, infrastructure, innovation, Internet, iPod, Kindle, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, Lake County, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, network, smart phone, stimulus, stimulus watch, U.S. Department of Commerce, World Bank Group
Posted in ARRA, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, Opinion, Stimulus Package, Uncategorized | No Comments »

National Cyber Security Awareness Month arrives

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Today is the launch of National Cyber Security Awareness Month by the U.S. government’s Department of Homeland Security. Fittingly, the theme is “Our Shared Responsibility,” and it’s intended to send a clear message that all computer users bear the responsibility of “cyber hygiene” for the protection of all, including children.

This is a key issue for us at the Knight Center of Digital Excellence. Protecting the assets and information of individuals, businesses, government and others that rely on Internet communications is a critical component of meaningful online access.

As Homeland Security officials suggest, there are simple things we all can to promote safety in cyberspace - not just in the month of October, but year-round.

Some examples:
• Install and regularly update anti-virus software and firewalls.
• Stay current with software updates that protection against intrusion.
• Back up important files on a removable disc or jump drive.

For more information on National Cyber Security Awareness Month, visit www.us-cert.gov and www.staysafeonline.org/ncsam.

Tags: anti-virus software, cyber hygiene, Department of Homeland Security, digital, education, firewalls, infrastructure, Internet, jump drive, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, National Cyber Security Awareness Month, network, public safety, software updates
Posted in Digital news | No Comments »

A positive revolution in Africa – and it’s all about connectivity

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

In recent weeks, the world press has reported on the potential revolutionary impact of a $650 million broadband project connecting East and Southern Africa to India and Europe. The aim is to spur the African economy, especially through technology innovation.

The fiber-optic cable that just went live is the first of several new undersea connections expected to boost Internet access in Africa between now and mid-2010. The cable is being built by a consortium, controlled primarily by African investors, with expansion costs estimated at $2.4 billion. The expanded Internet service will include Asia and parts of the Middle East.

Imagine the impact on the African continent, where some of the world’s most abject poverty exists.

Jon Gosier, a tech blogger, predicts that East Africa could become an outsourcing hub. “I think you’ll see a wave of creativity and new business opportunities as more and more Africans come online by the millions,” wrote Gosier, founder of a Uganda-based software development firm. “I think in five years or so we’ll be where places like India and Singapore are now.”

However, currently Africa is lagging behind.

In March, the International Telecommunication Union released its latest index comparing developments in “information and communication technologies” (ICT levels) in 154 countries over a five-year period from 2002 to 2007.

Many of the poorer, African countries hardly improved their already low broadband penetration rates over that five-year span. Prior to this new broadband project, only about five percent of the population in some areas used the Internet.

If the excitement is as unabashed as media reports say, it’s because of what Gosier anticipates: Major change, resulting in money in people’s pockets.

It’s not just blog talk. In its report, the Telecommunication Union, too, noted the “close relationship” between ICT levels and GDP. And in June, a World Bank report also noted the correlation between high-speed Internet access and economic growth – pointing to findings that for every 10 percentage points of increase in high-speed access, there is a 1.3 percentage point increase in economic growth.

In Africa, there will many ways to measure growth – such as in the number of children fed, or the number of textbooks in schools, or in medicines dispensed.

To be sure, the work ahead is enormous. While main Internet highways are being built, there will still be challenges reaching isolated areas.

But now there’s a great start. In a part of the world that has suffered so much, it is time for a revolution in the most positive sense.

Tags: Africa, American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009, Asia, bandwidth, Broadband Expansion, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, digital, digital divide, East Africa, economy, education, Europe, GDP, ICT, India, infrastructure, International Telecommunication Union, Internet, Jon Gosier, Middle East, network, rural communities, Signapore, Uganda, underserved, World Bank
Posted in Digital news, broadband | No Comments »

Knight Center active during first round of stimulus funding

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

The Knight Center of Digital Excellence has been extremely active in helping its Knight communities participate in the first round of broadband stimulus funding by collaborating with like-minded organizations to create a host of innovative programs designed to create jobs and bolster local economies.

We also supported local groups with their own asks – including Philadelphia’s Digital Philadelphia initiative; Miami’s “Elevate Miami;” Miami-Dade County’s Public Safety/Special Purpose Broadband; Detroit Broadband LLC’s (Clearwire); St. Paul, Minn.; Duluth, Minn.; and Biloxi, Miss.

Our proposals included:

• Connect Your Community

• Miami-Dade Broadband Coalition Infrastructure Project

• Northeast South Dakota Rural Broadband Project

Connect Your Community

A Sustainable Broadband Adoption stimulus proposal, Connect Your Community (CYC) saw the Knight Center partner with a host of the nation’s top digital adoption experts to propose a program that would engage, train, equip and support new broadband users in multiple communities, including Aberdeen, S.D.; Akron, Ohio; Biloxi/Gulfport, Miss.; Bradenton, Fla.; Detroit; Lexington, Ky.; Miami; and St. Paul.

CYC would directly help more than 75,000 disadvantaged households benefit from Internet access through a high-touch, community-based, replicable approach. The program would include digital literacy training and support, creating about 136 direct jobs while generating another 50 indirect positions. The Knight Center has partnered with community agencies such as urban leagues, libraries, educational institutions, economic development groups and health and human services organizations that would carry out the work in each targeted region.

National collaborators that would support key aspects of CYC include the Benton Foundation; the Alliance for Community Media; PBS; PC Rebuilders and Recyclers; TechSoup; Angela Siefer, of ShinyDoor; Jim Baller, of Baller Herbst Law Group and the U.S. Broadband Coalition; and Karen Peltz Strauss, of KPS Consulting. Dr. Kate Williams, an assistant professor at the University of Illinois and a leading authority on program evaluation, would design evaluation methods for the project.

Miami-Dade Broadband Coalition Infrastructure Project

The Knight Center partnered with the Miami-Dade Broadband Coalition in the planned construction of a robust, open, carrier-neutral broadband network that would provide broadband services augmented by nearly 35 square miles of wireless Internet access to up to 900 community organizations and institutions while reaching more than 2 million residents. This project has the potential to serve as a model economic engine and platform for innovation for the healthcare, education, public safety, digital inclusion, biotechnology, research and e-government applications.

This infrastructure project is expected to create more than 1,150 immediate, high-paying jobs directly involved with the implementation of the project, and 575 indirect jobs as a result of project related activity. The estimated economic impact created by this project is projected to be more than $1 billion with an increase in direct annual income of more than $700 million.

The Knight Center and the Miami Dade Broadband Coalition submitted a proposal to the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, requesting $64 million to cover close to 80 percent of the total project costs. If this funding is not obtained, the project will continue at a smaller scale.

Northeast South Dakota Rural Broadband Project

The Northeast South Dakota Rural Broadband Project is possible through a partnership between the Knight Center, TelServ Communications and the North East Council of Governments. The project aims to bring a wireless broadband super-highway linking 12 contiguous counties in rural Northeast South Dakota and provide broadband connectivity to more than 60,000 people. The Knight Center also worked with both partnering organizations to submit a Broadband Information Program application for funding.

In addition to the possible development and deployment of advanced public safety, e-government, telemedicine, agricultural, biotechnology and learning applications, the project is expected to generate an economic impact of more than $22 million a year, including preserving and creating more than 50 immediate, high-paying jobs directly involved with implementation and 470 indirect jobs.

These projects are just the beginning as rounds two and three should provide even more opportunities for Knight communities. The Knight Center of Digital Excellence is dedicated to helping our communities become connected communities. For more information on what the Knight Center is doing in your community and others, visit www.knightcenter.org.

Tags: Aberdeen, Akron, Alliance for Community Media, American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009, Angela Siefer, Baller Herbst Law Group, bandwidth, benton foundation, Biloxi, BIP, Bradenton, broadband, Broadband Expansion, Broadband Initiatives Program, broadband stimulus funding, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, BTOP, community, Connect Your Community, CYC, Detroit, digital, Digital Philadelphia, Dr. Kate Williams, Duluth, economy, education, electricity, Elevate Miami, Gulfport, healthcare, high-speed, infrastructure, innovation, Internet, Jim Baller, Karen Peltz Strauss, KCoDE, Knight, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, KPS Consulting, Lexington, Miami, Miami-Dade County, network, North East Council of Governments, Northeast South Dakota Rural Broadband Project, PBS, PC Rebuilders and Recyclers, Philadelphia, rural communities, ShinyDoor, South Dakota, St. Paul, stimulus, stimulus watch, TechSoup, telemedicine, TelServ Communications, U.S. Broadband Coalition, University of Illinois, utilities
Posted in ARRA, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, Stimulus Package, broadband | No Comments »

Go for gigabit speeds: America should expect nothing less

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

Mark Ansboury By Mark T. Ansboury, the Knight Center of Digital Excellence

As federal officials begin reviewing 2,200 detailed proposals requesting more than seven times the $4 billion in broadband investment in this round of stimulus funding, it’s a good time to revisit the big-picture and ask what outcomes are we looking for and what should drive funding decisions. With the government investing ambitiously in economic recovery, Americans should be equally bold in expecting a return on our nation’s investment.

And to ensure the long-term benefits - particularly given this is our infrastructure for innovation and global competitiveness for years to come - we all should be thinking years and decades out. To quote the “Great One,” Wayne Gretzky, you should “go to where the puck’s going, not where it is.”

So, as the Federal Communications Commission is charged with establishing our nation’s first broadband policy, we should focus not only where we fall short today, but also where we will entirely miss opportunities - and the puck. We need to know where our broadband strategy is going and what happens to our nation’s future without a bold one.

We need to follow the lead of other countries and start aiming (including investing and incentivizing) for gigabit Internet speeds for all. Gigabit-speed networks would provide Americans with hundreds of times the Internet speeds broadband households currently have.

Only a broadband policy striving for gigabit speeds will put us on par with our world competitors and provide the infrastructure America will need to compete for years to come. Right now, the U.S. government and the stimulus package are allowing the bar to be set so low, we are certain to fund initiatives that are, by international standards, already obsolete, while other countries such as Australia and Korea are committing even greater funds than the U.S. to upgrade networks. Quite simply, tomorrow’s innovation will come from whatever parts of the world have the platforms to foster it.

Gigabit broadband can also drive sweeping transformation in our communities and across sectors that affect us all, such as health care, education, government and public safety, and get our economy moving in the right direction again.

If the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act is truly going to help, today’s investment needs to continue once the shovels are put back in the shed. That means investing in technologies that will continue to have impact and empower businesses individuals while creating new opportunities and sustainable growth. As our economy changes, business and individuals are looking for new ways to engage their future workforce. On the home front, it’s about addressing the future needs of a connected household, providing high-bandwidth networks to manage household services, access to sensors for environmental and health management, availability of real-time access to the workplace, school, public safety and community services and numerous applications that have not been invented yet.

What do we know? Internet service has become more and more a necessity of daily life. It was only 15 years ago when phone companies said the Internet was a fad. The world has changed and will keep changing. Enabling gigabit access throughout the community will foster economic development and enable citizens to have access to new applications where they live, work and play. We should be thinking about incentivizing investment and innovation enabling new markets, new consumers and new services so as a nation and as individual citizens, we have a choice on the type and level of services we can access. Such access will determine whether we can actively conduct business from a home office, participate in a class discussion remotely, or access top quality health care regardless how far we live from the best hospitals.

What don’t we know? The opportunities, services, efficiencies and competitive advantage that having a true platform for innovation - a gigabit national network - would provide.

Take the example of health care, and what gigabit speed - or lack of it - would mean to you. With gigabit speeds, you could live in a remote town, yet be “seen” by a top doctor any distance away via video, through your home television screen, use local sensors to provide environmental information, statistics regarding your condition or state of health, monitor the trends in regards to chronic conditions. Gigabit speed means you can be monitored daily from your home by nurses and technicians at your local caregiver or doctor’s office. This, too, is possible with medical devices available on the market and is already happening in pockets of our country, where broadband capacity is available.

Close monitoring of this kind can mean life or death to many individuals. Simultaneously, it can help shift the focus of health care to wellness and prevention, to avoid as many high-cost emergencies as possible.

Looking similarly at government, education and other key sectors of our economy, there are equally transforming possibilities that will result from gigabit speeds.

Collectively across sectors, the effect of gigabit speeds will be not just economic recovery, but also improved quality of life and sustained competitiveness. Today’s spending choices and public policy decisions amount to an incentive and investment into the business plan for America’s future. Good planning requires that we learn from the past while keeping our eye on a greater future. Our American tradition is one of reaching for the highest goals, whether, in our past, via the Oregon Trail or an Apollo mission to the moon. Today, in the 21st century, why wouldn’t we go for gigabit speeds?

Mark T. Ansboury is chief technology officer of the Knight Center of Digital Excellence, based in Akron, Ohio. The center is operated by Cleveland-based technology nonprofit OneCommunity, in partnership with The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and is dedicated to creating connected communities through strategies that utilize information technologies to drive civic progress and economic development. To learn more about the Knight Center, go to www.knightcenter.org or e-mail info@knightcenter.org.

Tags: American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009, bandwidth, broadband, Broadband Expansion, broadband stimulus funding, community, digital, economy, education, FCC, Federal Communications Commission, gigabit, gigabit Internet speeds, healthcare, high-speed, infrastructure, innovation, Internet, KCoDE, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, Mark Ansboury, network, OneCommunity, stimulus, stimulus watch, telemedicine, utilities, Wayne Gretsky
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In a mad rush to apply for stimulus funding? Deep breath – and read on

Friday, August 7th, 2009

By Charles Berry, Knight Center of Digital Excellence

As the Aug. 14 stimulus application deadline draws near, here are a few to-do items to include on your checklist.

Don’t forget to register by going to http://www.broadbandusa.gov/register.htm. This is a must, and time is running out. At this government registration site, you’ll be able to:

1. Get a DUNS Number for your organization.

2. Ensure your organization has a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN). (You should know the taxpayer name associated with these numbers.)

3. Register with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR). You also must register for a Level 1 eAuthentication ID to enable you to draw the proposed service area for the application.

Monitor BroadbandUSA’s website for FAQs and the latest announcements about funding requirements. You may also ask questions at the workshops hosted by the RUS and NTIA. The vetted answers are the basis of the FAQs.

Subscribe to Broadband Headlines Newsletter, a daily release from the Knight Center of Digital Excellence, to arm yourself with the latest news about broadband and stimulus funding. Subscribe

After covering the basics, you may also be wondering how to make your application stand out in a crowded field. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Show your community is working together to leverage assets toward common goals. Instead of going it alone, develop strong partnerships with anchor institutions in your community. Create a vision for how public/private partnerships can really work.

Pay attention to details and precise specifications in your application. Use concise, persuasive language, and present clear plans and supporting information.

Capture attention with your executive summary. Make sure it conveys the big picture, while flowing logically and matching information detailed in your narrative. At one workshop, a panelist suggested the executive summary be written after the application is complete in order to ensure consistency. Remember, the pieces have to fit together to tell your story.

Describe your methodology for gathering and analyzing data used in substantiating claims of unserved or underserved service areas.

Remember, it’s all about jobs. Focus on impacts to economic development, job creation, education/skill building and public safety.

Clearly say what you propose to do. Describe the applications to be deployed and the benefits to your community. Detail the user training and education programs, along with adoption and communication plans.

Calculate the expected ROI (return on investment) and VOI (value on investment) and explain how the project will become sustainable over time.

On the flip side, here are some things you don’t want your application to convey:

A timeline that doesn’t mesh with requirements for stimulus funding. ARRA projects must be substantially complete in two years and fully completed in three.

Don’t say what you don’t know for sure. Avoid statements or claims about resources, infrastructure or capabilities that might be difficult to substantiate should you be challenged during the due diligence period.

Avoid shortcuts. In particular, proving eligibility based on the unserved/underserved guidelines is very difficult given the lack of information available. But don’t ignore this step. Take your best shot at describing the data that leads you to believe your analysis of the service area is valid.

Finally, here are a few hints to further help you on your way:

Perform the BIP Self-Assessment test and ensure you have assigned individuals/experts who will be responsible for specific sections of the application.

Pay close attention to the Project Description section of the application. This is a three- to four-sentence description (400 characters) that should concisely describe your proposed project. Your answer will be published on Recovery.gov and BroadbandUSA.gov to showcase the types of projects received. Make sure those three to four sentences say exactly what you want to convey to the world as well as to any entities that may challenge your proposal.

Continue to collect data corroborating broadband demand and access after you submit your proposal. The NOFA infrastructure application offers incumbents a 30-day period to contest your proposal by claiming they already cover the unserved or underserved areas you want to cover. Best to compile data even after submitting your proposal, so you’ll be ready for a challenge, should it occur.

If you have questions, consult the proper documents or e-mail us at info@knightcenter.org

Charles Berry serves as Chief Operating Officer for the Knight Center of Digital Excellence, based in Akron, Ohio. The center is operated by Cleveland-based technology nonprofit OneCommunity, in partnership with The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and is dedicated to creating connected communities through strategies that utilize information technologies to drive civic progress and economic development. To learn more about the Knight Center, go to www.knightcenter.org or e-mail info@knightcenter.org

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Posted in ARRA, Knight Center of Digital Excellence, OneCommunity, Opinion, Stimulus Package, broadband | 2 Comments »